Bahrain basketball league set for exciting tip-off

TDT | Manama                          

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The 2022/2023 Zain Bahrain Basketball League is set for a rip-roaring start on Saturday with two exciting fixtures on the cards. Defending champions Manama will be the first to take the court when they go up against Samaheej at 5.30pm. That will be followed at 7.30pm by top contenders Al Ahli, champions in the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 campaigns, going up against hugely reinforced side Al Najma.

Manama have beefed up their backcourt with the addition of Ahmed Aldurazi from Ahli, although they lost long-time captain Mohammed Hussain to Najma in the off-season. Aldurazi joins top talents including Ahmed Salman, Hassan Nowrooz, Ahmed Abdulaziz, Ali Hussain and Mohammed Ameer for the reigning title holders, to name a few.

Meanwhile, Ahli return with their formidable line-up that includes Maitham Jameel, Hesham Sarhan, Mohammed Kowayed, Mohammed Qurban and Subah Hussain. Najma, on the other hand, had one of the biggest off-season hauls in the Kingdom, netting the services of Hussain from Manama, Hussain Shaker from Muharraq and big man Abdulrahman Ghali from Ahli. The trio join a solid core that features Mohammed Buallay and Ali Jaber. The first week of league action continues on Sunday and Monday.

On Sunday, Sitra take on Isa Town while Bahrain Club face Al Hala. Then, on Monday, Nuwaidrat face off with Muharraq, who were last year’s losing finalists.

Muharraq are back with key players Bader Abdulla Malabes, Ali Shukrallah and Younes Kowayed, and they have also added point guard Hussain Salman to the team, who are now set to be coached by renowned Serbian tactician Rajko Toroman. Heading into the new season, Manama have won the league title a record 22 times, while Ahli have claimed 19 championships followed by Muharraq and Hala with three apiece.