Bahrain’s reigning league champions become first-ever winners of FIBA West Asia Super League
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Bahrain’s Manama Club made basketball history last night after being crowned the first-ever champions of the FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL).
The Kingdom’s most decorated ba sket ball club and defending national league champions captured the gold medals in the inaugural edition of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA)-sanctioned tournament after defeating Kuwait SC 67-59 in the final of the FIBA WASL Final Eight, which came to a close in Dubai.
The Bahrainis led by as many as 19 points and then staved off a late rally from their rivals to seal the game, which was held at Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Sports Hall.
Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority president and Bahrain Olympic Committee chief His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa attended the affair along with Bahrain Basketball Association president Captain Waleed A l Alawi and other high-ranking officials.
HH Shaikh Khalid earlier yesterday directed that a private plane transport Bahraini fans from the Kingdom to the UAE to watch the contest and support Manama.
A large crowd thus gave the Bahraini side a boost in their win.
Following the final, Manama and Kuwait were awarded their respective trophies and medals as the competition’s top two teams.
BC Astana of Kazakhstan won the FIBA WASL bronze medals after defeating Al Riyadi of Lebanon 94-90 in the game for third place, also played yesterday at the same venue.
The four top-ranked teams to finish the FIBA WASL Final Eight were joined in the event by Beirut Club of Lebanon, Shahrdary Gorgan of Iran and Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE.
The Chennai Heats from India were also set to play but withdrew at the last minute due to unavoidable circumstances. Avenge Manama’s victory avenged their defeat to the Kuwaitis in the FIBA WASL Gulf Sub-Zone final.
Young Bahrain national team guard Mustafa Hussain showed once again his limitless potential, top scoring for the victors last night with 18 points, including four three-pointers.
American professional Sir’Dominic Pointer added 16 markers to go with eight rebounds, while veteran Bahraini guard Hasan Nowrooz contributed 13 points with three triples as Manama’s last player in double figures.
Travin Thibodeaux, also from the US, had nine points before fouling out late in the game, while Ali Hussain added five and Ahmed Salman, Mohammed Ameer and Jeremy Deshawn Evans finished with two points apiece for Manama.
For Kuwait, Hamad Hasan was their top scorer with 25 points, while Cody Lalanne chipped in with 21 in defeat. Manama were in control for most of the contest.
They shrugged off a slow start in which they fell behind 4-10 early in the first quarter, to lead heading into the second 18-14.
They then extended their advantage to double digits and were up 39-26 at the half, and then in the third enjoyed their biggest gap of 19 points after a split from the charity stripe from Pointer. They remained ahead 50-39 heading into the final canto.
There, Manama appeared to be cruising to the win, but then Kuwait came alive in the closing minutes, slowly chipping away at the deficit and getting as close as three points, 55-58.
But then Evans replied with two free-throws, and then Nowrooz buried a triple to make it 63-55, virtually icing the result.
Further conversions from the charity stripe by Pointer and Mustafa Hussain pegged the final score and Manama’s historic triumph.
The WASL Final Eight has also acted as a qualifier for FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2023, on the road to FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2023, FIBA’s highest club competition.
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