Bahrain through to Asiad play-offs

TDT | Manama    

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s senior men’s national basketball team yesterday sneaked into the play-offs of the men’s basketball tournament at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

The Bahrainis secured their place following a 76-62 win over Thailand in their concluding Group C assignment of the preliminary round.

The result was their first and only triumph in this stage, but it was enough to put them through to the knockouts.

They next take on South Korea in their play-off match-up, with that game scheduled for tomorrow at 3pm, Bahrain time.

The winners will march through to the quarter-finals the following day.

In Bahrain’s win yesterday, they used a fine third quarter to turn a 31-34 deficit at the half to a 51-48 lead after three.

They then widened the gap in the final canto, leading by as many as 14 points en route to the final whistle.

Wayne Chism had a monster effort of 25 points and 15 rebounds to spearhead the Bahrainis in the win.

Mustafa Hussain added 19, including four three-pointers, while Ali Aqeel and Ali Jaber chipped in with nine points apiece.

Tyler Lamb was the top scorer for the Thais with 18 points.

Elsewhere for Bahrain yesterday at the Hangzhou Asiad, Marwa Buarki was ranked 11th after the first stage of the women’s trap qualification, and Saeed Kadhem was 35th after stage one in the men’s trap qualification.

The second phase for both competitions will be held today, to be followed by the medal rounds, with only the top six in each going through.

In men’s boxing, Bahrain’s Danis Latypov bowed out of medal contention after losing to Kamshybek Kunkabayev of Kazakhstan in the over-92kg category quarter-finals.

All five judges scored 29-28 in favour of Kunkabayev, with Latypov only winning the bout’s third and final round.