BASKETBALL – Muharraq’s superstar skipper Bader Abdulla Malabes praised his team for living up to expectations and staying “hungry” throughout their historic 2025-26 season.
Muharraq wrapped up a sensational campaign on Friday night by securing an unprecedented title treble after being crowned back-to-back champions in the 2025-26 Zain Bahrain Basketball League.
To add to that, they had been dominant from the beginning of the year to the end, losing just twice in all national competitions, which included their championship triumphs in the Khalifa bin Salman Cup and the curtain-raising Bahrain Super Cup.
“Winning back-to-back feels incredible – it feels great!” Malabes told the GDN following their game four overtime victory over bitter rivals Manama to seal their league crown 3-1 in the best-of-five finals.
“It’s my first time going back-to-back in my career as a professional – 17 years – so I’m very happy.
“It’s a reflection of our hard work from the pre-season up to now. The expectations were high for us, and I’m happy that we did it.”
Malabes credited Muharraq’s “stronger” team chemistry, particularly amongst their local players, as a major factor in their success.
Coached by German tactician Peter Schomers, Muharraq boast arguably the deepest roster of Bahraini stars in the kingdom’s basketball scene, with Malabes joined by the likes of Mohammed Ameer, Mohammed Juma’a, Mahmood Abbas Isa, Wayne Chism, Nader Ali, Younes Kowayed, and Ali Hussain, amongst others.
“Compared to last year, when we had a new team in terms of local players, we had stronger chemistry this season,” Malabes explained.
“We added two national team players then, plus last year’s league was with three imports, so it was an unfamiliar squad and we took time to build chemistry.
“But after winning last year and coming into this season – for us locals – we already had chemistry. We understood each other more than last year, and of course, with just two losses, it shows the character of the team.
“We were always hungry to win.”
Muharraq captured the league championship for the fifth time in history.
The outcome also put a stamp on their dominance throughout the campaign – as well as against Manama.
One of their two losses was to their finals opponents in game three of their title clash, but they had won the other eight times in their nine head-to-head meetings, including in the clinching fixtures of the Khalifa bin Salman Cup and Bahrain Super Cup.
Amongst the key professional players who took to the court for Muharraq late this season were Nick West, Michael Warren, Deshawndre Washington, and Kris Clyburn, although other imports were also previously part of their roster such as Kerwin Roach Jr and Daniel Hamilton.
Aside from their campaign in the kingdom, Muharraq also took part in the 2025-26 Fiba West Asia Super League (Wasl), but were eliminated in the play-offs for the semi-finals of the Fiba Wasl’s Gulf sub-zone.
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