Qatar National Basketball Team Opens International Friendly Tournament with Victory Over Saudi Arabia

Doha, July 28, 2025 – The Qatar national basketball team kicked off its participation in the 2025 International Friendly Tournament, organized by the Qatar Basketball Federation, with a hard-fought 82-78 victory over Saudi Arabia at Lusail Multipurpose Arena. The closely contested match saw a balanced first quarter, ending in a 24-24 tie, before Qatar gradually asserted dominance, edging out Saudi Arabia 21-20 in the second quarter, 19-18 in the third, and 18-16 in the decisive fourth quarter to secure the win.

Brandon Datrill Goodwin led Qatar with an impressive 23 points, shooting at a 69% accuracy rate, while Mohammed Ali Abdulrahman was Saudi Arabia’s top scorer with 24 points, delivering a strong individual performance despite the loss.

The tournament, hosted at Lusail Multipurpose Arena from July 28 to August 1, 2025, features four Asian national teams: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Iraq. Competition resumes on Wednesday, July 30, with Qatar facing Japan at 5:00 PM, followed by Iraq versus Saudi Arabia at 7:00 PM. The tournament concludes on Friday, August 1, with Saudi Arabia taking on Japan at 5:00 PM and Qatar closing out against Iraq at 7:00 PM.

Under the guidance of Turkish coach Hakan Demir, the Qatar national team is using the tournament as a critical phase in their preparation for the 31st FIBA Asia Cup, scheduled for August 5-17, 2025, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, featuring 16 teams from across the continent. Qatar has been drawn in Group A alongside Australia, South Korea, and Lebanon. Group B includes Guam, Japan, Syria, and Iran, while Group C comprises China, Jordan, India, and Saudi Arabia. Group D features Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, Iraq, and the Philippines.

The Asia Cup follows a group-stage format, with the top team from each group advancing directly to the quarterfinals. Teams finishing second and third in each group will compete in crossover knockout matches to determine the remaining quarterfinalists.
This tournament serves as a vital opportunity for Qatar to fine-tune their technical and physical readiness ahead of the continental championship