Bahrain set for semi-final clash

BAHRAIN lock horns with Kuwait tonight in the semi-finals of the Gulf Basketball Association (GBA) Championship for National Teams 2024, currently being hosted by the kingdom. The game is scheduled for a 7.30pm tip-off and it will be played at Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town. Saudi Arabia and Qatar face off in the other encounter in the last four. Their game is set to get underway at 5pm at the same venue. All are welcome to attend and entrance is free of charge for both fixtures. Bahrain will be looking to avenge their only defeat of the preliminary round when they face off with the Kuwaitis. The hosts completed the opening stage in first place, but lost to Kuwait in heart-breaking fashion, 86-87, in their second of three assignments of the phase. The nationals had opened their campaign with a slim 77-75 victory against Qatar, which came on a game-winner by Muzamil Ameer with less than a second to go, and also defeated Saudi Arabia 88-78 to secure their spot in first place on the standings. Saudi also had two wins in the preliminaries while Qatar and Kuwait finished with one apiece. Bahrain are looking to secure their first-ever title in the senior men’s GBA competition. The Jad El Hajj-coached squad will be relying heavily on the play of young stars Ameer and Mustafa Hussain, along with the inside presence provided by newly naturalised big man Cliff Alexander (203-C/F-1995, college: Kansas, agency: MSG), who is making an impressive debut with Bahrain’s national team in the tournament. The Bahrainis will also be hoping for timely contributions tonight from Salman Ahmed, Maitham Jameel, Ali Aqeel, Ali Jaber, Hussain Ali (179-PG-1993), Ali Shukrallah (194-F-1994), Mohammed Buallay, Mohammed Ameer, and Subah Hussain. The winners of the two semi-finals will then face off tomorrow for the title. The losers will clash for the bronze medals, also tomorrow evening.
Courtesy of: gdnonline.com