Ahli take down Manama in league semis opener

TDT | Manama                                                             

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Al Alhi powered to a well-deserved 93-86 victory against Manama last night in game one of their best-of-three Golden Square semi-finals series in the 2022/2023 Zain Bahrain Basketball League.

Ahli used a strong third-quarter performance to outscore their rivals by 24-13 and turn a 45-49 half-time deficit to a 69-62 advantage heading into the final canto. There, Ahli were able to maintain their lead, even with Manama cutting the deficit to four, 76- 80, with just over three minutes to go.

Ahli’s Taylor Rochestie made some crucial baskets with less than two minutes remaining, including a fadeaway jumper that put them up 84-76. Maitham Jameel also had a key shot that kept Ahli in front by eight, and later Subah Hussain and Rochestie iced the game with four pressure-packed free-throws that pegged the final score.

Rochestie and Dakari Johnson had 18 points apiece to spearhead a balanced Ahli attack. Rochestie also had 11 assists while Johnson took down 11 rebounds. Hussain chipped in with 17, while Jameel and Ali Aqeel had 13 each.

For Manama, Travin Thibodeaux had 20 points and 10 rebounds to pace his team in defeat. Ahmed Salman added 19 and Mustafa Hussain 13. Ahli will now look to close out the match-up and advance to the championship series with a game two victory on Thursday next week.

Manama will have other plans, and will be hoping to force a third game. If needed, it will take place May 28. The other Golden Square series is between Muharraq and Al Ettihad—a battle that has been stretched to a winner-take-all third game, scheduled to take place Saturday. Ettihad won game one but Muharraq staved off elimination and lived to fight another day with a win in game two.