BASKETBALL – Bahrain champions Manama punched their tickets last night to the Gulf sub-zone semi-finals of the 2024-25 Fiba West Asia Super League (WASL).
Manama secured their berth with a thrilling, come-from-behind 75-69 victory over bitter rivals Al Ahli in game three of their best-of-three play-off series, held at a jam-packed and rocking Bahrain Basketball Association Arena in Um Al Hassam.
It was a heated and tightly contested affair between the long-time nemeses – one that saw the crucial ejection of Manama’s American professional Tony Carr late in the third quarter. Carr was called for an unsportsmanlike foul on Ahli’s Maitham Jameel, having swung at his Bahraini counterpart after being fouled. The two sides were tied at 55-apiece at that point.
But instead of being disadvantaged by Carr’s absence – being their leading scorer prior to his disqualification – Manama were inspired and fellow-American Clint Chapman, along with Bahraini stars Ahmed Salman and Subah Hussain, came up with big baskets down the stretch.
Chapman also anchored the victors’ stifling defence, which held Ahli to just single digits in the final quarter until the final half-minute.
Manama now move on to the WASL Gulf final four, where they will take on Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE, who have been waiting for their opponents in what will be another best-of-three clash. Manama have no time to rest as their series is scheduled to begin on March 10.
Last night’s contest was set up after the two teams split the first two games in their exciting, all-Bahraini match-up. Ahli drew first blood by taking game one 65-56, and then Manama stayed alive by winning game two 100-97 to force last night’s rubber match.
Manama raced out to an 11-3 lead early in the first quarter but Ahli were able to reduce the gap to just 16-17 heading into the second. There, Ahli took control, scoring the period’s first seven points, capped by a Maitham Jameel three-pointer, that made it 23-17. They continued to build on their advantage and went ahead 29-20, and Elijah Thomas scored the last three points of the half to give Ahli a commanding 46-36 lead at the interval.
Ahli maintained a double-digit cushion early in the third but Manama roared back, quickly forging a 52-all tie before going in front by three with a Mohammed Kowayed basket from beyond the arc. Ahli replied, however, and Thomas had a lay-up before the quarter buzzer to give his team a 58-55 edge going into the final frame.
Carr had been tossed at this point, but the rest of his teammates stepped up in the fourth, none more than Chapman. He scored on a put-back to make it 62-60 with five minutes left, and after a Thomas jump hook tied it once more at 64-apiece, Salman gave Manama the lead for good with a tough jumper.
That sparked a 7-0 run, with Hussain scoring on a lay-up off a Chapman assist, and then Chapman making a key block under the basket on Thomas before scoring on the other end to make it 70-64 with a minute to go. Manama maintained their advantage with free-throws in the closing moments and then Jameel buried a desperation three-pointer to bring Ahli to within 69-73. But it was too late, and Chapman pegged the final score with two charity shots right before the final whistle.
Chapman finished as Manama’s leading scorer with 22 points while grabbing 10 rebounds and blocking five shots. Carr had 21 points and nine boards before his ejection, while Hussain chipped in with 15 as Manama’s other player in double figures.
Thomas paced Ahli in the loss with 32 points and 14 rebounds, while Jameel added 15. Dominique Sutton and Ahmed Alderazi scored seven points apiece, but they were both held to two-for-10 shooting from the field.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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