Muharraq thwart Ahli, live to fight another day

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Muharraq lived to fight another day after defeating defending back-to-back champions Al Ahli 84-82 last night in a thrilling second game of their best-of-three Golden Square semi-final series in the 2021/2022 Zain Bahrain Basketball League.

American professional Sammy Monroe made the go-ahead basket late in the fourth quarter and then Bader Abdulla Malabes sank a pair of pressure-packed free-throws to help keep the victors in front in a tight finish.

Monroe then pegged the final score making one of two charity shots with just 5.1 seconds to play, and then a potential game-winning attempt from Ahli’s Mohammed Kowayed at the buzzer clanged off the rim.

Ahli won the first game convincingly by double digits but Muharraq would not go down with a fight yesterday. The series is now headed for a winner-take-all third game scheduled for Thursday at the Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town.

Meanwhile, game two in the other Golden Square series between Al Hala and Manama is scheduled to take place tonight. Hala are hoping to forge another upset and close out their opponents in two games, but Manama will be fighting to fend off elimination and extend their semi-final series to a deciding third game, to be held on Friday, if needed.

Hala won their first meeting 81-78. American Dewayne Jackson led all scorers last night with 30 points for Muharraq. He made six three-pointers in the game. Monroe added 19 markers and eight assists, while Bader Abdulla Malabes had 12 and Ali Shukralla provided a spark off the bench with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

For Ahli, Adrian Uter had 29 points and 18 rebounds as their leading performer. Kowayed chipped in with 17, while Maitham Jameel and Ahmed Aldurazi added 13 apiece. It was a tightly contested affair from the opening tip.

Ahli took a slim 24-21 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Muharraq were able to gain the advantage heading into the half by just a single point, 39-38. Muharraq then took what was their biggest lead at the time when Malabes swished in a three-pointer to make it 58-52 early in the third.

Jackson later made back-to-back baskets to help extend their advantage to eight, 64-56, but Ahli closed the quarter strong and got back to within two points with successive triples from Sarhan and Jameel.

Uter then tied the game with the first basket of the fourth quarter, but Jackson replied with five straight points to make it 69-64. The score remained tight heading into the final two minutes, with Ahli holding a narrow 80-79 edge.

That set the stage for Monroe’s heroics, as he gave Muharraq the lead with 37.4 seconds remaining with a fadeaway jumper that put Muharraq ahead for good. Ahli then turned the ball over on the next possession and Malabes was fouled with nine seconds left on the clock.

The star guard buried both pressure-packed charity shots to make it 83-80. Uter answered with another two free-throws to bring Ahli back to within one, but then Monroe pegged the final score with one of two charities and just 5.1 seconds to go.