MANAMA will not be taking anything for granted when they look to sweep Al Ahli tonight in game three of their best-of-five championship series in the Zain Bahrain Basketball League.
This is claimed by superstar forward Mohammed Kuwayed, who says that despite his team enjoying a 2-0 finals lead, they are still approaching this evening’s contest completely focused on the task at hand.
“Our job is not finished,” Kuwayed told GDN last night. “We will come tomorrow and play hard, just as we have done in the first two games. Hopefully we can get a third win.”
Kuwayed was instrumental in both of Manama’s wins so far, finishing as their top-scoring Bahraini player each time. He added: “We are ready to play tomorrow; we have prepared ourselves the way we normally do although we have made just a few adjustments to our defence.
“I, personally, will be looking to play even better than I did in the first two games. We know that Ahli will give their very best to win tomorrow, but we are confident in our team and in our abilities.”
Ahli, on the other hand, head into game three with their backs against the wall, but head coach Linos Gavriel says that they will not stop fighting until the very last buzzer.
“After losing two tough games, we are emotionally empty,” the Greek-Cypriot told GDN. “But our guys are tough players; they are winners. And I trust them that they can bounce back and be competitive.”
Both of Manama’s wins in the finals came after tightly contested fourth quarters, with Manama doing just enough on each occasion to thwart their rivals. Manama secured game one 86-79 and then claimed a second victory 78-74.
“We lost the first game by two shots, and then we lost the second game by one,” explained Gavriel. “We are in a tough situation but I hope we can do something. We are prepared well; I just wish our coaching staff had been with the team since the beginning of the season and not just the past two months.
“We will take things one possession at a time, and with the right approach, hopefully we can get the win.”
Game three is scheduled for a 7.15pm tip-off tonight at the Khalifa Sports City arena in Isa Town.
Manama are gunning for a fifth successive league title and 21st overall – making them the most successful club in the history of Bahrain basketball. Ahli are looking to secure their 18th league championship and their first since the 2009/2010 campaign.
Manama are also aiming to claim an impressive treble for the 2017/2018 season as they had also won the Bahrain Super Cup at the beginning of the season before clinching the prestigious Khalifa bin Salman Cup just earlier this month.
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