BASKETBALL – Al Najma maintained their unbeaten record in the 2026-27 Zain Bahrain Basketball League last night following a hard-earned 81-76 victory against Al Hala in gameweek four of the new season.
Both teams headed into the contest with three wins in as many games to start their respective campaigns, but it was Najma who came away with their pristine mark intact at Zain Basketball Arena in Um Al Hassam Sports Complex.
Najma registered their win after finishing strong in the see-saw affair that saw neither team lead by double digits.
The victors fell behind midway through the final frame after Ahmed Bindayneh buried a three-pointer for a 70-69 Hala edge.
But Najma replied immediately and took the lead for good with a 5-0 run, and although Hala got back to within a single point on a Tony Mitchell triple, Najma answered with seven unanswered points to build an 81-73 advantage with only seconds remaining, virtually sealing the contest.
Raekwon Rogers led a balanced Najma attack with 17 points off the bench.
Skipper Ahmed Alderazi chipped in with 13 and seven assists, while Husain Mohamed was their only other player in double figures with 11.
Bindayneh was Hala’s leading man with a game-high 24 markers, while Mitchell finished with 23 in the loss.
Najma secured their fourth successive triumph as they climbed to eight points in first place on the league table while Hala lost for the first time and they went to seven markers.
Meanwhile, Isa Town claimed their first win of the new campaign after beating Samaheej 103-93 in yesterday’s other game at the same venue.
Isa Town were in control virtually the entire contest and enjoyed leads as big as 21 points in the second half.
Talal Qaheri scored a game-high 26 points to spearhead the victors while also grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out five assists.
Nhlanhla Vela added 18 points and 13 rebounds as Isa Town ended a two-game losing skid.
Husain Albanna paced Samaheej with 19 points off the bench.
Captain Ahmed Fateel added 18 as Samaheej suffered their third straight defeat while remaining winless.
The fourth round of league action wraps up tonight with two more games on schedule.
At 6pm, two-time defending champions Muharraq face Al Ettihad, followed at 8pm by a titanic clash between bitter rivals Manama and Al Ahli.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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