Riffa, Manama to face off in Cup quarters

Holders Riffa were drawn against Manama last night for a fiery quarter-final match-up in the 2020 Khalifa bin Salman Cup in basketball.

The official draw for the prestigious annual tournament was held yesterday at Zain Basketball Arena in Um Al Hassam, with representatives from all participating teams on hand as well as officials from the Bahrain Basketball Association (BBA), who conducted the proceedings.

Also attending the event were Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs Aymen bin Tawfeeq Al Moayed and Bahrain Olympic Committee secretary general Mohammed Al Nusuf.

Speaking on the sidelines in the draw, BBA President Talal Kanoo said that the Khalifa bin Salman Cup has become one of the biggest annual tournaments in Bahrain.

He praised the care and follow-up for the competition given by His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, and wished all the teams success.

All 12 of Bahrain’s basketball clubs under the BBA are taking part.

Riffa, Manama, Muharraq and Isa Town were all given direct berths in the round of eight, while the other four slots are still to be determined. Muharraq and Isa Town clash in the second quarter-final game.

Prior to this stage, there will be four first round games. Al Ahli take on Samaheej while Bahrain Club face off with Al Ettihad. The winners of those games will then meet in the third quarter-final contest, with the victors moving forward to face off with the winners of the Muharraq-Isa Town clash in the semis.

Also in the first round, Al Hala take on Sitra while Al Najma lock horns with Nuwaidrat. The winners of these two games will then meet in the last quarter-final contest, with the victor of that facing off against the team that triumphs in the Riffa-Manama bout.

The opening games of the Khalifa bin Salman Cup are scheduled to take place on Wednesday at the Khalifa Sports City arena in Isa Town, with the two already determined quarter-final battles being held. Muharraq faces against Isa Town at 5.45pm followed at 7.30pm by the titanic clash between Riffa and Manama.

On Thursday, Al Ahli faces Samaheej at 5.45pm followed by Najma’s clash with Nuwaidrat.

On Friday, Bahrain Club and Al Ettihad battle in the evening’s first contest followed by Hala taking on Sitra.