Ahli claim narrow win over Manama

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Defending back-to-back champions Al Ahli edged past Manama 78-70 last night in their Top Six division clash in the 2021/2022 Zain Bahrain Basketball League.

Ahli came up with the big plays in the clutch as they maintained their undefeated record after four games while handing bitter-rivals Manama their first loss in the stage of the national basketball season. Ahli came out gunning at the beginning of the third quarter, sparked by a 9-0 run that helped them build a 14-point lead late in the period.

But Manama would not go down without a fight, and they even took the lead in the fourth following a Davion Berry three-point play that put them 54-53 in front. Things remained close the rest of the way until Ali Aqeel gave Ahli the lead for good with two minutes and 18 seconds remaining.

The wily guard swished in a three-pointer from the left corner to put Ahli up 69-68. Teammate Hesham Sarhan added a basket for a late three-point advantage, and then Sarhan sank a free-throw while two more field goals by Adrian Uter and Maitham Jameel in the final minute virtually iced the game for Ahli at 76-70. A pair of Uter charity shots pegged the final score.

Manama tried hard to stay in the contest but they could not convert their late-game efforts. Ahmed Aldurazi and Uter combined for 44 points to spearhead Ahli in their win. Aldurazi had 23 points including six three-pointers, while Uter scored 21 while also taking down 22 rebounds, dishing out five assists and blocking three shots.

Sarhan and Jameel added 10 points apiece. For Manama, Hasan Nowrooz top scored with 18 points while Berry chipped in with 17 and Devin Ebanks had just 14 to go with 12 rebounds.

The first half was tightly contested between the two sides, who are Bahrain’s most successful clubs in basketball. Ahli held a slim 15-13 lead at the end of the first period and at the half maintained a two-point margin, 32-30. The victors then enjoyed their scoring spurt to start the second half but Manama was able to keep the deficit at single digits 45-53 heading into the final canto.

There, Ahli and Manama were even, scoring 25 points apiece in the last 10 minutes of action, and it was Ahli who came up with the crucial baskets late on. The Top Six continues on Wednesday with Muharraq taking on Bahrain Club at 7 pm in the evening’s lone game.

Then, on Sunday, Muharraq are back on the hardwood when they face Al Hala at 5.45 pm, followed by Ahli clashing heads with Bahrain Club at 7.30 pm.