Ahli through to round of 16 in Arab clubs basketball

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s Al Ahli made it through to the round of 16 of the 34th Arab Clubs Basketball Championship being played in Kuwait City following a 68-62 victory over Al Bashaer of Oman in their concluding preliminary round game.

The Bahrainis faced a double-digit deficit early on but battled back in the second half to win a close contest. The result marked Ahli’s second triumph in three tries in Group C of the tournament’s first stage.

They had previously beaten Al Sadd of Qatar but lost to Kazma of Kuwait.

Ahli now march on to the ensuing phase where they will take on Tigris from Iraq. That game is scheduled for this evening with a 5pm tip-off, Bahrain time.

Other match-ups in the round of 16 see Al Gharafa of Qatar take on Al Ittihad of Alexandria from Egypt, Wedad Boufarik of Algeria facing Kazma, Port from Yemen playing Kuwait SC of Kuwait, Al Ittihad of Syria against Al Ahly of Egypt, Al Ahly Benghazi from Libya against Al Riyadi Club Beirut of Lebanon, Sadd against Beirut Club from Lebanon, and Bashaer against Jahra of Kuwait.

In Ahli’s win over Bashaer, they trailed 12-23 at the end of the first quarter but were able to cut the deficit to 32-38 at the half. In the third quarter, Ahli tied it at 53-all on a Mohammed Kowayed three-pointer and then took the lead on a Subah Hussain lay-up.

The Bahrainis were then able to extend their advantage to as many as eight points in the final quarter en route to the win.

Three players had 14 points apiece for Ahli, including Americans Nickolas David and Jerry Duffon and Bahraini guard Maitham Jameel. Kowayed finished with 11 and Hesham Sarhan chipped in with nine.

For Bashaer, Christoph Brady had 23 points to pace the Omanis in defeat. Mahmoud Alsouli added 13 and Ahmad Hajji 12.