BASKETBALL – Bahrain's senior men’s basketball national team stepped up their final preparations in Dubai, the UAE for their opening round campaign in the pre-qualifiers for the Fiba Asia Cup 2029.
The Bahrainis played a tune-up game against Sharjah Sports Club on the Emiratis’ home floor as they gear up to begin their Group A pre-qualification bid tomorrow.
On the sidelines of the contest, Bahrain Basketball Association vice-president Nader Al Awadhi received a token of appreciation from Sharjah SC marking the occasion.
The nationals are pooled together in pre-qualifying with Oman, Nepal, Kuwait, and the hosts UAE and play their first fixture against the Omanis tomorrow at 4pm, Bahrain time.
Action gets underway today with two games – first between the Emiratis and Nepal at 4pm followed by Oman taking on Kuwait at 7pm.
Bahrain have a 12-player squad in the pre-qualifiers’ first phase.
They are to be spearheaded by top stars Mustafa Hussain, Ahmed Salman, and JaKarr Sampson, who will be ably assisted by the always dependable Mohammed Buallay, Ahmed Bindayneh, Ali Jaber, Mahmood Abbas Isa, Ahmed Alderazi, Mohammed Juma’a, and Ali Hussain. Completing the roster are talented youngsters Somto Patrick Onoduenyi and Mohammed Ghazi.
The Bahrainis are coached by Greek-Slovenian tactician Slobodan Subotic, who will be making his official debut with the national team in Dubai.
Following tomorrow’s assignment, the nationals next face the UAE on Friday at 7pm.
A rest day for all teams will be held on Saturday, after which the Bahrainis will face Nepal on Sunday at 4pm. They complete their schedule this round against Kuwait on Monday at 7pm. All times are Bahrain.
Bahrain are part of an 18-nation field – divided into four pools, each hosted at a centralised venue – for the first round of pre-qualifiers for the Fiba Asia Cup 2029. Group B is to be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and it features Palestine, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Kyrgyzstan, and the host Kazakhs.
Group C, set for Seremban, Malaysia, includes Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the host Malaysians; while Group D, to be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, features Thailand, Vietnam, Fiji, and the host Mongolians.
The top three from each division will move on to the second round of pre-qualifiers, to be played later this year.
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