Riffa storm into Golden Square

Joseph Jones

RIFFA scored a narrow but decisive 75-64 victory over Al Hala last night to book the last available berth in the Golden Square of the Bahrain Premier League at Zain Basketball Arena in Umm-ul-Hassam. With yesterday's victory, Riffa moved to third on eight points, same as Muharraq, and joined leaders Al Ahli and second-placed Manama in the Golden Square. Al Namja finished fifth and Al Hala sixth and the two teams will now be relegated into the Silver League. Riffa, who finished runners-up to Manama in the Bahrain Basketball Cup late last year, dominated the match right through except in the third quarter when Al Hala mounted a spirited challenge. But it mattered very little in the end as Riffa by then had build up a substantial lead with dominant performance in the first two-quarters for a handsome 38-23 half-time lead. Riffa won the first quarter 15-8 and the second 23-15. Al Hala put their best foot forward in the third winning it 22-13 but it only narrowed the lead to 45-51 before the start of the last canto. Riffa, however, stepped on the accelerator in the last quarter and won it comfortably 24-19 for a decisive and deserving victory in the last playoff match. American import Joseph Jones (206-C/F-86, college: Texas A&M) played a key role in the do-or-die clash top scoring with 22 points while the tried and trusted Mohammed Kuwayed contributed 18. Bader Isa and Subah Hussain added 11 points each while Younis Kuwayed also got into double figures with 10. Hasan Gerashi was the hero though his team lost as he top scored with 28 points while Mansour Kasse (208-C-92) (14) and Hussain Jan (10) were the only other Al Hala players to get into double figures.
Courtesy of: gdnonline.com

Tags : JOSEPH JONES, AL-RIFFA, BAHRAIN BASKETBALL