Riffa advances to FIBA 3x3 Quarter-Finals in France

TDT | Manama     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Riffa, representing Bahrain, advanced to the quarter-finals of the FIBA 3x3 Poitiers Challenger 2024 in France with impressive back-to-back victories.

They secured the top spot in Pool B, overcoming Ermont Senef 21-18 and Kandava Turiba 22-17.

Riffa started strong against the home team, Ermont Senef, with Jonas Foerts scoring a crucial two-pointer to give them a 13-12 lead midway through the game.

Ermont tied the score at 17-17, but Foerts and Dennis Donkor secured the win for Riffa, with Donkor scoring the final three points to reach the 21-point target.

Donkor led the team with nine points, followed by Foerts with six. In their second match, Riffa faced Kandava Turiba from Latvia.

Despite an early 5-1 lead, Kandava kept the game close, tying the score at 14-14 with a two-pointer from Zigmars Raimo.

However, Vic Van Oosterwyck’s crucial long-range shots put Riffa ahead 20-16. Donkor sealed the win with another long-range shot, finishing the game with nine points.

Van Oosterwyck contributed seven points, while Foerts added six. Riffa will face the runners-up from Pool D in the quarter-finals, which includes teams from China, Latvia, and Israel.

The Poitiers Challenger is a qualifier for the Debrecen Masters in Hungary, part of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour, with the top three teams earning a spot.