BASKETBALL – MANAMA’S hearts were broken last night after missing out on a berth in the Fiba West Asia Super League (WASL) Final Eight for the first time in the tournament’s history.
The kingdom’s national champions, who are also the first-ever overall title-winners in the Fiba WASL, came up short in their bid after losing to Al Qadsia SC of Kuwait 73-81 yesterday in the game for third place in the competition’s Gulf sub-zone.
Manama trailed by as many as double digits but fought back to within a single possession with under a minute remaining. A potential game-tying three-pointer with 10 seconds to go by Tony Carr then came off the rim, and then a fast-break lay-up by Sayed Akbar on the ensuing possession sealed the victory for the Kuwaitis.
A Sek Henry heave at the buzzer swished through the net to peg the final score.
The result ended Manama’s campaign in this season’s Fiba WASL early, as well as that of Bahraini basketball clubs.
Manama participated in the tournament alongside Al Ahli, whom they defeated in the qualification to the semi-finals for the Gulf sub-zone.
Manama then lost in two games in the last four to Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE, putting them in last night’s bronze medal contest.
With their win, Qadsia have now qualified for the Fiba WASL Final Eight, where they join Gulf finalists Shabab Al Ahli and Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia as the sub-zone’s representatives. They will also compete against the top three teams from the West Asia sub zone, along with the champions of South and Central Asia.
The Fiba WASL Final Eight will determine this season’s overall Fiba WASL champions.
Manama’s loss against Qadsia was their third in as many meetings this campaign. The Bahrainis had lost both previous contests, held during the Gulf sub-zone group stage – first in Kuwait City in October of last year and then at home in January.
In last night’s clash, Manama fell behind early and were held to single digits for nearly the first eight minutes of the game. They trailed 12-20 at the end of the opening period.
In the second, they narrowed the gap and got to within 24-28 following a Carr basket, but Qadsia finished the half strong for a 41-32 advantage at the break.
In the third quarter, Manama roared back and made it 43-46 after six straight points from Subah Hussain, Clint Chapman, and Carr, but Qadsia once again had a reply and stretched their lead to 59-49 heading into the final frame.
There, the Kuwaitis stayed in front for much of the period, but Manama made one final surge. Down 60-69 with five minutes left, they went on an 11-7 run, which then set the stage for Carr’s late triple that made it 73-76.
After his miss, however, Qadsia held on until the final buzzer.
Carr finished with a game-high 34 points in the losing effort. He was Manama’s only player in double figures. Hussain added nine points and Chapman had eight.
Henry paced Qadsia with 28 points, while Abdullah Alsaeid had 11 and Johnathan Williams 10.
Manama claimed the maiden title in the Fiba WASL in the 2022-23 season after defeating Kuwait Club in the championship game of the Final Eight.
Then, last year, they lost all three of their games in the Final Eight’s group phase and were unable to defend their overall crown.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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