Manama barge into WASL final

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

Bahrain champions Manama powered into the Gulf sub-zone finals of the 2022/2023 FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL).

The Bahrainis outclassed Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia 86-71 last night to complete a two-game sweep of their best-of-three semi-final at Zain Basketball Arena in Um Al Hassam.

Manama won the first game held in Riyadh last week, and closed out their match-up in style yesterday.

They now face the winner of the other Gulf zone semi-final between Shabab Al Ahli of Dubai and Kuwait SC of Kuwait, which is also being played in best-ofthree format.

The Kuwaitis won game one, with the follow-up contest scheduled for tonight.

The losing semi-finalists will go head-to-head for the bronze medals.

Both series will be bestof-three. American professional Lamont Jones spearheaded Manama with 24 points, while Ahmed Salman had 16.

Mohammed Ameer chipped in with 11, while Hasan Nowrooz and Mustafa Hussain contributed 10 apiece.

Clint Chapman scored 17 while Mohammed Alsuwailem scored 14 in the losing effort.

Manama fell behind last night 16-21 at the end of the first quarter but midway through the second took a 29-28 lead on an Ahmed Salman three-pointer.

They rode their momentum into the half-time break, where they held a 38-30 advantage.

The hosts made the most of home court advantage and widened the gap to 65-55 heading into the final canto, where they enjoyed their biggest lead of 15, which was also the final winning margin.

The WASL is a new basketball competition sanctioned by FIBA, the sport’s global governing body.

Manama are one of 16 teams in this inaugural edition.

Along with the Gulf sub-zone, there is a West Asia sub-zone.

The top three teams from the WASL Gulf and WASL West Asia sub-zones qualify for the WASL Final 8, where they will be joined by champions of South Asia and Central Asia.

The WASL Final 8 will qualify for FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2023, on the road to FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2023, FIBA’s highest club competition.