‘Three-peat’ for Ahli

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Al Ahli captured an unprecedented “threepeat” last night after winning the Khalifa bin Salman Cup for the third successive season.

Ahli were crowned the 2021/2022 champions of the prestigious tournament after defeating Manama 84-76 in the final, played at the Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town.

Veteran Ahli skipper Mohammed Qurban buried the biggest basket of the game—a three-pointer from the left corner that gave his team an 81-76 lead with just 35.3 seconds to go.

Free-throws from Ahmed Aldurazi and Hesham Sarhan then pegged the final score. Ahli claimed their 15th overall title in the annual competition. Last night’s final was a re-match of the title-decider from the past two seasons, both clinched by Ahli.

In attendance were Bahrain Olympic Committee vice-president His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, General Sports Authority CEO Dr Abdulrahman Askar and Bahrain Basketball Association president Captain Waleed Al Alawi.

They presented Ahli team members and club officials the coveted Khalifa bin Salman Cup, as well as the medals for both finalists. American professional Adrian Uter and Sarhan combined for 42 points of Ahli’s game output.

Uter finished with 22 to go with an impressive 16 rebounds. Sarhan had 20 with eight boards. Aldurazi contributed 18 markers while Maitham Jameel had 14, both with two three-pointers apiece.

Qurban had five points, including his crucial triple for the victors. Devin Ebanks from the US paced Manama with 26 points, while Mohammed Ameer chipped in with 21 and Ahmed Salman had 13.

Manama were playing without their other American import, Davion Berry, who was suspended for the game. It was a tight finish to the contest but Ahli came up with the big baskets down the stretch.

An Uter power move in the paint gave Ahli a 76-72 lead, but Ebanks scored on the other end before Sarhan had a reply for Ahli.

Ameer then had a put-back for Manama to make it 76-78 with just under a minute remaining, setting the stage for Qurban’s huge three-pointer. Earlier in the game, Ahli were able to go ahead by as many as eight in the third quarter, and after Manama got back to within a single point, Sarhan helped Ahli head into the final canto up 65-59.

Manama rallied to begin the fourth and it was a see-saw affair until the finish. Manama held a 22-17 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Ahli were able to get within 41- 42 at the interval.