Doha, April 16, 2026:

Al Arabi Club ascended the podium as champions of the 13th edition of the Qatar Basketball Cup for the 2025–2026 sports season, after clinching the final against Al Shamal with a score of 77–71. The match was hosted at Al Gharafa Hall on Thursday evening, April 16, 2026, marking Al Arabi’s third consecutive triumph.

Al Arabi entered the game strongly, imposing control over the first quarter, which they finished ahead 24–13, capitalizing on their solid defense and forcing their opponents into errors. Al Shamal, however, responded differently in the second quarter, tightening their defensive pressure and raising the pace of team play to win the quarter 21–17, narrowing the gap before halftime and signaling their intent to fight back.

At the start of the second half, Al Arabi regained rhythm, leveraging the depth of their roster and effective player rotation without disrupting overall momentum, ending the third quarter ahead 21–16.

The fourth quarter saw heightened intensity as Al Shamal surged, cutting the deficit to its lowest margin and edging the quarter 21–15. Yet, Al Arabi’s composure in decisive moments, coupled with their calm finishing in attack, secured the advantage and sealed the title.

With this victory, Al Arabi raised their tally to five titles, setting a record for the most Qatar Basketball Cup wins, surpassing Al Gharafa’s four titles. Meanwhile, Qatar SC, Al Sadd, Al Rayyan, and Al Wakrah each hold one title, reflecting the diversity of competition throughout the tournament’s history.

Al Shamal’s Tyree Quannell Crump was the game’s top scorer with 36 points, while Al Arabi’s Elmedin Kikanović led his team with 28 points.

Following the match, Mr. Mohammed bin Saad Al Mughaseeb, President of the Qatar Basketball Federation, His Excellency Sheikh Tamim bin Fahd Al Thani, President of Al Arabi Club, Mr. Abdullah Shamsan Al Sada, Vice President of Al Shamal Club, and Mr. Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari, Secretary-General of the Qatar Basketball Federation, presented the trophy and gold medals to the champions, along with a financial prize of QAR 600,000. Al Shamal received silver medals and a prize of QAR 400,000.

Al Arabi had reached the final after a marathon semi-final against Al Rayyan, decided in overtime with a 104–103 victory. Al Shamal qualified by defeating Al Wakrah 71–56 in the other semi-final.

On this occasion, Mr. Mohammed bin Saad Al Mughaseeb emphasized that the final was a true reflection of the progress of Qatari basketball, noting: “The match was characterized by high technical quality and tactical discipline from both teams, which reflects the great work being done by the clubs.” He added that the federation continues to develop competitions and enhance competitiveness to raise the game’s level locally and prepare it for greater international presence.

Meanwhile, Mr. Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari praised the overall standard of the tournament, highlighting that the closeness in team levels added strong competitiveness. He stated: “What we witnessed in the final is the product of an entire season of hard work, and it confirms that the sport is moving in the right direction in terms of organization and technical quality.”