Bahrain outclass Saudi Arabia to claim top seed

BAHRAIN outclassed Saudi Arabia 88-78 last night to claim the top seed heading into the semi-finals of the Gulf Basketball Association (GBA) Championship for National Teams 2024, currently being hosted by the kingdom. The Bahrainis enjoyed leads as big as 18 points in the contest and held off a late Saudi charge in which they cut the deficit to just three with a little over two minutes to play. But six unanswered points, capped by a Cliff Alexander (203-C/F-1995, college: Kansas, agency: MSG) two-handed slam dunk off an alley-oop pass from Maitham Jameel, put the hosts back up by nine and virtually sealed the win. With the result, the Bahrainis registered their second victory in three tries and secured first place on the standings – with a superior points differential – at the end of the tournament’s preliminary round. The Saudis followed in second place after being handed their first defeat. Qatar finished third ahead of Kuwait, also with a better points differential. The Qataris defeated their Kuwaiti counterparts 76-72 in yesterday’s other game for their maiden triumph in the competition. Bahrain are now set to lock horns with Kuwait in the semis tomorrow. Saudi and Qatar clash in the other contest. Today is a rest day. Bahrain were firing on all cylinders in their win last night. They were the aggressors from the tip, taking a 28-17 lead at the end of the opening period and staying ahead 46-37 at the half. Bahrain stretched their advantage to 65-52 after three, and then in the final frame, Alexander banked in from downtown to beat the shot clock and make it 71-53. But Saudi gradually made one last stand. They went on a 14-3 run, which ended with an Ayman Almuwallad triple, to cut the gap to just 74-67, and then later Marzouq Almuwallad (180-PG-1992) scored with his own three-pointer to make it 74-77 with less than three minutes to go. But four successive charity shots from Jameel and Mustafa Hussain, followed by Alexander’s highlight rim-rocker, put the nationals ahead 83-74 and finally dash their rivals’ hopes. Hussain led four Bahrain players in double figures with 18 points while also dishing out 11 assists. Alexander finished with 16 and 13 rebounds, while Mohammed Ameer and brother Muzamil Ameer scored 14 and 13, respectively. Jameel and fellow-backcourt player Ali Aqeel contributed eight points apiece in a welcome boost for the nationals. Mohammed Alsuwailem and Mohammed Alsager had 15 each to pace the Saudis, who never led in the game.

Courtesy of: gdnonline.com