Bahrain youth bag Gulf basketball bronze

TDT | Manama                           

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s youth national basketball team clinched the bronze medals yesterday in the Gulf Basketball Association (GBA) qualifiers for this year’s FIBA Asia U16 Championship.

The nationals secured their podium spot after defeating Kuwait 75-56 in the game for third place. The Bahrainis took a 22- 15 lead at the end of the first quarter and held on to their advantage until the final buzzer.

They enjoyed going ahead by as many as their 19-point winning margin at the end. With the result, Bahrain came away with only their second triumph in the competition.

They had previously won just one of their three games in the preliminary round before losing to hosts Saudi Arabia in the semi-finals.

Daniel Moosa finished with 16 points to lead the Bahrainis, who had five players in double figures. Hasan Jameela added 14 while Ali Altoq scored 13. Husain Alsamaheeji chipped in with 12 while Mujtaba Rayan had 11 off the bench.

Talal Mohammad had 18 and Mohammad Al Shammari 14 for the Kuwaitis in defeat. By finishing third, the Bahrainis, coached by Soufiane Mrabet, came up short in their bid to qualify for the FIBA Asia U16 Championship, which takes place in September in Doha.

Only GBA finalists Saudi and Qatar booked their berths. Bahrain have played four times in the past in the continent’s under-16 tournament, first in 2009 and then again in 2013, 2015 and 2022. The Bahrainis’ best finish was eighth overall in the 2013 competition held in Tehran.