Manama stay undefeated with big win over Muharraq

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Manama powered to a huge come-frombehind 86-76 victory over arch-rivals Muharraq last night in week seven of the 2021/2022 Zain Bahrain Basketball League.

Manama fought back from as many as 17 points down early in the second half to take a 14-point lead late in the game and come away with their fifth successive victory.

They now share an undefeated record only with back-to-back defending champions Al Ahli. Veteran guards Hassan Nowrooz and Mohammed Hussain combined for 47 of Manama’s points in the win, with Nowrooz scoring 26, including six makes from beyond the arc.

Ahmed Salman and Mohammed Ameer added 14 points apiece, Manama played most of the game without American professional Devin Ebanks.

Muharraq built a 46-35 lead at the end of the first half and went up 52-35 following a Sayed Mohammed Hameed basket early in the third.

But Manama made a miraculous comeback from there, outscoring their opponents by 10 in the period and cutting the deficit to just a single point, 65-66, with a Sadeq Shukrallah three-pointer that swished through the net as the quarter buzzer sounded.

Manama then took full control of the contest in the final canto.

They took the lead with the first basket of the fourth by Mohammed Ameer and slowly pulled away`.

They eventually enjoyed an advantage of up to 14 markers in the closing seconds.

American Dewayne Jackson top scored for Muharraq with 19 points.

He also had 12 rebounds and seven assists in the loss, which dropped their team to a 4-2 win-loss record. Ali Rabea chipped in with 14 while Bader Abdulla Malabes had 13 and Hussain Shaker 10.

In yesterday’s other game, Sitra defeated Samaheej 104-87. Sitra had a good start and led 27-15 at the end of the first quarter.

They were able to extend their advantage to as big as 25 points and held on until the final buzzer for the win.

American Marcel Jones nearly had a triple-double with 35 points including five three-pointers, 15 rebounds and nine assists.

Ali Eid added 21 points and Husain Safar had 18 off the bench.

Both Eid and Safar fired in four triples for the victors.

For Samaheej, Senegalese import Mansour Kasse had 29 points and 17 rebounds.

Hussain Busafwan added 14.

With the result, Sitra improved to a 2-5 win-loss record while Samaheej dropped to a 1-5 mark.

League action continues tonight with Nuwaidrat facing Isa Town at 5.30pm followed by defending champions Al Ahli taking on Al Najma.