Manama extend basketball league championship battle

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Manama stayed alive in their Zain Bahrain Basketball League 2021/2022 title bid after defeating Muharraq 87-73 last night to send their best-of-three championship series to a winner-takeall third game. Manama took a 14-point lead in the second quarter and were able to hold on to their advantage until the final buzzer, coming away with the hard-earned game two result to level the finals clash at one-game apiece.

The finals now head to a decisive third contest, which is scheduled to take place on Monday night. It will tip off at 9.30pm and it will be played at the Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town. Manama are hoping to add to their record 21 league championships. They last won the title in the 2017/2018 campaign. Muharraq, who narrowly won game one, are looking to secure their fourth league crown.

Their last title triumph came in the 2018/2019 season. American professionals Devin Ebanks and Davion Berry led a balanced Manama attack with a combined 45 points between them. Ebanks had 23 and Berry 22, while also making some key baskets down the stretch.

Ahmed Salman added 13 in the win while Mohammed Ameer scored 12 while also taking down 12 rebounds. Hasan Nowrooz was their last man in double figures with 10 points. For Muharraq, Dewayne Jackson and Sammy Monroe from the U.S. carried their team offensively, finishing with 27 and 24 points, respectively, in the losing effort. Jackson added three blocks and three steals but also had a woeful nine turnovers, while Monroe took down 10 rebounds.

No other players scored in double digits for Muharraq, as Bader Abdulla Malabes had nine and Hussain Shaker finished with eight. The game got off to a tight start with both basketball heavyweights trading punches in the first quarter, with neither able to go ahead by more than four points.

They remained deadlocked at 19-apiece at the end of the period. Manama then took control momentarily in the second and led by as many as 14, but Muharraq cut the deficit to 42-47 at the half. Muharraq battled hard to keep things close in the third but a Berry lay-up put Manama up by double digits, 69-59, heading into the final canto.