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.”

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.”