Bahrain rally past Qatar

Bahrain squandered an early 17-0 lead but still managed to oust a battling Qatar 69-62 last night in the Gulf Basketball Association (GBA) Men’s National Team Championship 2019, currently being played in Kuwait City. The Bahrainis raced out of the gate and took quick control of the game in the first quarter, but allowed their opponents back to within a single point midway through the third period. The nationals closed out strong, however, overcoming foul trouble from naturalised big man CJ Giles en route to claiming their second win in as many games to begin this five-team competition.

The Qataris were playing their first game as they opened their tournament with a loss. Bahrain enjoyed a balanced attack, with four players scoring in double figures. Mohammed Buallay and Ahmed Salman both had 12 points, while Muzamel Ameer finished with 11 and Bader Abdulla Malabes had 10, including three crucial three-pointers in the second half. Hesham Sarhan chipped in with seven, Mohammed Ameer had six, Giles had four and eight rebounds in limited minutes, Mohammed Qurban contributed three and both Subah Hussain and Ahmed Aziz had two points.

Abdulrahman Mohammed Saad paced Qatar in the loss with 16, while Abdelrahman Yehia and Erfan Ali Saeed each scored 10. Bahrain now have a break over the next two days and will be back in action only on Wednesday when they face off with Saudi Arabia. That game is scheduled for a 5pm tip-off. The Bahrainis got off to hot start in yesterday’s fixture, gradually building a double-digit lead while holding their rivals scoreless for nearly the first seven minutes.

Three free-throws from Hesham Sarhan and a three-point play from Mohammed Buallay put Bahrain ahead 17-0, and then only did Qatar make it onto the scoreboard. The nationals ended the opening period with a commanding 22-6 advantage, but to start the second, it was their turn to find difficulty scoring. Their troubles allowed the Qataris to string together six unanswered points, and that mini-run got them to within 13-22. Bahrain managed to get things together and stay ahead 35-27 at the half, but to begin the third quarter, Qatar made it a close fight and a three-pointer by Yehia cut the deficit to 36- 37.

Giles was then called for his fourth foul, sending him to the bench with more than a quarter remaining, but crucial baskets from beyond the arc from Salman, Qurban and Malabes kept Bahrain afloat. Qatar mounted a late surge late in the final canto as they closed the gap to just six points, 57-63, with just under three minutes left. But talented Ameer brothers Mohammed and Muzamel both had timely baskets, and Buallay iced the win from the charity stripe. Following their clash with Saudi on Wednesday, Bahrain’s final assignment of this preliminary stage will be against hosts Kuwait on Thursday at 7pm.

After the single round-robin, one team will be eliminated while the top four move on to the knockout semi-finals. In the final four, scheduled for November 30, the top-ranked squad take on the fourth seeds, while team number two battle team number three. The gold and bronze medal games will then take place on the championship’s final day on December 1.