Manama lift Khalifa bin Salman Cup!

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

Manama were last night crowned champions of the 2023 Khalifa bin Salman Cup basketball tournament. Manama claimed the title after battling past Muharraq 75-72 in a hugely exciting and intense final, played at a jam-packed Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town.

American professional Sir’Dominic Pointer made the go-ahead basket with 37.7 seconds to play for Manama.

He converted a contested lay-up to give his team a 73-72 edge. Ali Hussain then sank two pressure-packed free-throws to ice the game with just seconds remaining.

Muharraq had one last possession to try and tie the contest prior to the final buzzer, but could not get a shot off.

On hand during the game 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 the two finalists their respective medals and Manama the Khalifa bin Salman Cup.

The result marked the second time Manama won the prestigious trophy. The first was in the 2017/2018 season.

Pointer spearheaded the Manama cause last night with 21 points and seven rebounds.

Mohammed Ameer chipped in with 18 and nine rebounds, while Ahmed Salman and Mustafa Hussain each scored nine.

Travin Thibodeaux also made some key contributions, finishing with eight points, nine rebounds and six assists, while Ali Hussain finished with just five points, all in the final two minutes to help decide the encounter.

For Muharraq, Dajuan Summers and Dewayne Jackson, both from the US, combined for 52 points to lead their team in defeat.

Summers had 27 to go with seven boards, while Jackson had 25 while dishing out seven assists. Skipper Bader Abdulla Malabes was their only other player in double figures, finishing with 11.

A slippery court that was a result of the heat and nerve-wracking atmosphere in the game played a part in the proceedings, affecting a number of possessions for both teams at key points.

Manama were in control in the first quarter and a Mustafa Hussain driving lay-up gave them a 22-14 advantage.

Summers later fired in a three-pointer to bring Muharraq to within 17-22 to end the period.

In the second, an Ahmed Salman three-pointer gave Manama the first double-digit lead of the game, 31-21.

He later made another basket from beyond the arc to give them a 13-point lead, 40-27, and Manama took a 42-33 advantage into the half.

Roar back Muharraq then roared back after the break and back-to-back triples from Malabes and Summers capped a 19-8 run to give them a slim 52-50 edge.

Muharraq maintained the narrow gap and were up 57-55 going into the final quarter.

There, Muharraq went up by five but Manama managed to stay within striking distance.

Hussain Salman fired in a three-pointer to make it 68-63 with under five minutes to go, but Pointer later tied it once more at 68-apiece.

After a Summers baseline jumper, Ali Hussain buried a crucial triple with a minute 38 seconds to put Manama back in front 71-70.

Jackson then made two free-throws, setting the stage for Pointer’s go-ahead basket with 37.7 seconds to play.

With the Khalifa bin Salman Cup decided, Manama and Muharraq are also scheduled to meet in the championship series of the 2022/2023 Zain Bahrain Basketball League.

This will be a best-of-five battle, tipping off Friday at 7pm at the same venue.

Game two will be held on June 5, while the rest of the games are still to be determined.

The series is a repeat of last season’s league finals, and Manama are looking for a repeat championship. Muharraq, on the other hand, are hoping to avenge their loss.