Al-Mughassib Crowns Al Arabi Champions of the League… Al Rayyan Runners-up… Al Sadd Claims Bronze

Doha – April 2, 2026:

Al Arabi Basketball Club secured the title of the Qatar Basketball League for the 2025–2026 season—its third consecutive championship—after defeating rivals Al Rayyan 91–79 in the second game of the best-of-three finals series, held at Al Gharafa Hall on Thursday, April 2, 2026. The victory confirmed Al Arabi’s dominance in recent years and added another golden chapter to its record.

The match was played at a high technical level from the outset, with Al Arabi adopting a direct offensive style, relying on quick transitions and high-pressure defense. This approach gave them a clear advantage in the first quarter, which they won 28–18, thanks to sharp three-point shooting and organized drives to the basket.

Al Rayyan responded in the second quarter, improving defensive positioning and capitalizing on fast breaks to take the period 27–18, bringing the game back into balance amid an electrifying atmosphere.

Halftime adjustments by Al Arabi’s Tunisian coach, Hatim Mamlouk, proved decisive. Tactical changes—most notably tightening defensive spaces and employing a shifting zone defense—helped Al Arabi regain control in the third quarter, which they won 18–14.

In the fourth quarter, Al Arabi displayed the true character of champions, raising both physical and technical intensity. Exploiting lapses in Al Rayyan’s focus, they sealed the period 27–20 and clinched the title without the need for a third decisive game.

Individually, Al Arabi’s Abdulrahman Saad shone with a standout performance, finishing as top scorer with 24 points, alongside key contributions in defense and playmaking. He was named Best Qatari Player of the Match, receiving a $100 award from Musafir Trading and Transport. For Al Rayyan, Rion Cortez Brown led with 18 points.

With this triumph, Al Arabi raised its tally to 11 league titles, narrowing the gap with Al Rayyan, who lead historically with 18 championships. Qatar Club follows with 7 titles, while Al Sadd, Al Gharafa, Al Shamal, and the former Army Club each hold 2, and Al Ahli has 1 title from the 2000–2001 season.

Al Arabi had already taken a major step toward the crown with a 79–71 win in the first game of the series, giving them psychological and technical momentum that carried into the decisive clash.

Following the match, an official awards ceremony was held. Mr. Mohammed bin Saad Al-Mughassib, President of the Qatar Basketball Federation, honored the winners: Al Arabi received the new league shield, gold medals, and a prize of 1 million Qatari riyals; Al Rayyan claimed silver medals and 750,000 riyals; while Al Sadd secured bronze medals and 500,000 riyals after defeating Al Ahli 80–73 in the third-place playoff on Monday, March 30, 2026.

On the occasion, Mr. Al-Mughassib stated: “We congratulate Al Arabi on this great achievement, which reflects long-term institutional work. We witnessed a final series of high technical quality that demonstrates the progress of Qatari basketball. We also value Al Rayyan’s strong season and their competitiveness until the last moments. The Federation continues to work on developing competitions and raising the quality of play to serve the national teams and enhance the sport’s regional presence.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Ahmed Youssef Al-Darwish, Assistant Secretary General of the Federation and Chairman of the Competitions Committee, commented: “This season’s final was among the most competitive in recent years, with very close technical and physical levels between the teams. The success of the finals series in both organization and performance reflects the overall progress of the system—from refereeing to administration, and ultimately on-court play. What Al Arabi and Al Rayyan presented today is a model of modern basketball built on speed, discipline, and tactics.”