BASKETBALL – Bahrain champions Manama crashed out of Gulf sub-zone title contention last night in the 2024-25 Fiba West Asia Super League (WASL).
Manama suffered a disheartening 81-88 defeat to Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE in game two of their best-of-three Gulf semi-final series, played at a packed and rocking Bahrain Basketball Association Arena in Um Al Hassam.
Manama battled valiantly in the contest but could not overcome their Emirati rivals. After losing the first game 91-104 at Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Sports Hall in Dubai last week, their setback yesterday completed Shabab Al Ahli’s sweep.
The UAE-based side now move on to the Gulf sub-zone finals where they will take on the winners of the other last four match-up between Al Qadsia of Kuwait and Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia.
Qadsia drew first blood in the series with an 82-69 win in game one at Shaikh Saad Alabdullah Sport Hall complex in Kuwait City.
They will now be looking to secure their spot against Shabab Al Ahli in the Gulf championship when they play game two tonight at Green Basketball Court Jeddah in Saudi, tipping off at 10pm, Bahrain time.
The ensuing Gulf finals will also be played in best-of-three format, and it is currently scheduled to be held in April.
Manama will next play for the chance to be Gulf sub-zone bronze-medallists.
They will face the losers of the Qadsia-Ittihad series in a single fixture on April 7, with the venue to be determined.
Taking third overall would earn Manama a place in this season’s Fiba WASL Final Eight, where they will battle for the tournament’s overall crown.
There, they will be joined by the top three from the WASL West Asia sub-zone, along with the champions of South and Central Asia.
Manama were the first-ever winners of the Fiba WASL’s overall title in the 2022-23 season.
They had also missed out on the Gulf crown that year, having finished as runners-up in the sub-zone.
In last night’s contest, Manama had a strong start and led for much of the first quarter.
After Hamad Albreiki tied it at 22-all with a three-pointer for Shabab Al Ahli, Manama’s Chad Brown buried two free-throws to give the Bahrainis a 24-22 edge to end the period.
The visitors then took control in the second and a Deshawndre Washington driving lay-up right before the half-time buzzer gave them a 46-43 lead.
The Emiratis never conceded from there, finishing the third up 70-63 and then building their biggest gap of the game of 11 points, 80-69, on an Omer Alameri basket with just under five minutes to play.
But Manama made one last desperate rally, and eight quick points from Ahmed Salman helped them get to within 76-82.
Clint Chapman then had back-to-back baskets to make it a one-possession game at 80-82 with under a minute remaining, but Alameri answered with a back-breaking triple that helped secure the result.
After Manama’s Tony Carr split a pair of charity shots, Alameeri and Washington pegged the final score from the free-throw stripe.
Chapman had 20 points to pace Manama in the loss, while Salman chipped in with 19, Carr had 15 and 14 assists, and Brown finished with 14 points and 16 rebounds.
Qais Alshabebi scored 21 to lead Shabab Al Ahli. Hamid Albreiki contributed 16, and Washington, Alameri, and Jamelle Hagins all finished with 12 points apiece.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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