Round 2 of Semi-Finals. Kuwait and Al-Manama reach Gulf Finals

Group Gulf

Kazma - Kuwait 79-122

Kuwait outrebounded Kazma 57-35 including a 19-8 advantage in offensive rebounds. Kuwait players were unselfish on offense dishing 29 assists. Haitian center Cady Lalanne (208-1992, college: UMass) scored 20 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the charge for the winners and U.S. Virgin Islands-American forward Marcus Georges-Hunt (196-1994, college: Georgia Tech) chipped in 17 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists during the contest. Five Kuwait players scored in double figures. Kuwait's coach felt very confident that he used 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American power forward Clinton Chapman (208-1989, college: Texas, agency: Diamond Sports) responded with a double-double by scoring 36 points (!!!) and 15 rebounds and his fellow American import swingman Travis Leslie (193-1990, college: Georgia) scored 20 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists.
Top scorers:
Kazma: C.Chapman 36+15reb+2ast, T.Leslie 20+5reb+8ast, A.Abdulrahman 9+9reb+1ast, A.Albaloushi 7+4reb+5ast, R.Abdulaziz 5+1reb+2ast, A.Hamad 2+2ast
Kuwait: C.Lalanne 20+9reb+4ast, M.Georges-Hunt 17+9reb+6ast, T.Carr 16+8reb+5ast, M.Adnan 15+7reb+1ast, H.Hasan 14+4reb+4ast, F.Aldhefiri 12+5reb+4ast

Al-Muharraq - Al-Manama 88-98

Al-Manama outrebounded Al-Muharraq 40-28 including 28 on the defensive glass. Al-Manama looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. American swingman SirDominic Pointer (198-1992, college: St.John's) notched 25 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line) to lead the effort and the other American import forward Devin Ebanks (206-1989, college: WVU) supported him with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Al-Manama's coach used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. Even a double-double of 15 points, 6 rebounds and 11 assists by American Ricky Ledo (201-1992, college: Providence, agency: Slash Sports) did not help to save the game for Al-Muharraq. Guard Bader Malabes (183-1987) added 24 points and 6 assists for the hosts. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures.
Top scorers:
Al-Muharraq: B.Malabes 24+1reb+6ast, R.Ledo 15+6reb+11ast, M.Nasser 15+5reb, T.Wilkerson 14+6reb+1ast, H.Ali 10+5reb+2ast, A.Uter 10+4reb+2ast
Al-Manama: S.Pointer 25+7reb+4ast, R.Ali 22+6ast, D.Ebanks 15+10reb+3ast, T.Thibodeaux 11+10reb+3ast, M.Hamoda 11+6reb, A.Haji 10+4reb+1ast

Group West Asia

Al Shurtah - Gorgan 83-88

Point guard Sina Vahedi (185-2001) notched 28 points and 5 rebounds to lead the effort and guard Navid Rezaeifar (193-1996) supported him with 20 points and 4 assists. Even 28 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line) by American guard Unique McLean (188-1997, college: SFC, agency: Blacktop Management) did not help to save the game for Al Shurtah. Iraqi forward Ali Ismael (199-1994) added 13 points and 7 rebounds for the hosts. Four Al Shurtah players scored in double figures.
Top scorers:
Al Shurtah: U.McLean 28+5reb+4ast, A.Ismael 13+7reb+2ast, H.Abdullah 12+2ast, D.Graham 10+3reb+6ast, H.Talib 8+10reb+1ast, M.Al-Khafaji 7+4reb
Gorgan: V.Sina 28+5reb+3ast, N.Rezaeifar 20+4ast, A.Gholizadeh 9+2reb, M.Sheikhi 9+2reb+2ast, Y.Mohammad 7+6reb+1ast, W.Cherry 5+1reb+1ast

Sagesse - Al Riyadi 109-106

American forward Cleanthony Early (203-1991, college: Wichita St.) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 30 points and 21 rebounds. Swingman Ahmad Ibrahim (198-1992, college: Rice) contributed with 25 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. Sagesse's coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. Guard Wael Arakji (193-1994) replied with 28 points and 9 assists and Bosnian center Elmedin Kikanovic (211-1988) added 15 points and 16 rebounds in the effort for Al Riyadi. Four Sagesse and five Al Riyadi players scored in double figures.
Top scorers:
Al Riyadi: W.Arakji 28+3reb+9ast, H.Gyokchyan 16+6reb+1ast, A.Saoud 16+7reb+4ast, S.Sakakini 15+5reb+3ast, E.Kikanovic 15+16reb+1ast, M.Harris 12+2reb+2ast
Sagesse: C.Early 30+21reb, A.Ibrahim 25+6reb, J.Gibson 24+1reb+3ast, O.Jamaleddine 10+7reb+6ast, K.Ezzeddine 7+1ast, A.Abdel Massih 6+1reb+3ast