Bahrain gearing up for Manama Masters

TDT | Manama    

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The Kingdom of Bahrain continues to step up its preparations for the inaugural edition of the Manama Masters, part of this year’s FIBA 3x3 World Tour.

The prestigious basketball event is scheduled to take place November 16 and 17 at a specially constructed venue at Bahrain Financial Harbour (BFH) amidst significant participation from various countries around the world.

Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) vice-president and supreme organising committee chairman His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa yesterday paid an inspection visit to the competition’s site.

Dedicated 3x3 basketball courts have been put up along with grandstands and a series of facilities and tents that provide all logistical services, sales booths, and amenities.

HH Shaikh Isa was accompanied by General Sports Authority (GSA) CEO Dr Abdulrahman Askar, BOC secretary general Faris Al Kooheji, Bahrain Basketball Association (BBA) president Captain Waleed Al Alawi, and a number of representatives and officials from FIBA, basketball’s international governing body, the BBA, sponsoring companies and media.

The Manama Masters will be an entertaining celebration of basketball that will strengthen Bahrain’s status as a leading regional tourist destination.

It will be the Kingdom of Bahrain’s first-ever appearance on the FIBA 3x3 World Tour, and it is taking place under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first deputy chairman, GSA president and BOC chief His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

This inaugural event will be the first for the next three years for the Kingdom on the FIBA 3x3 World Tour.

The series’ 2023 calendar got underway in April in Japan, with other destinations all over the world throughout the year. Bahrain is the world tour’s fourth destination in the GCC, joining Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar.

Bahrain will be represented by two teams in the event, including a men’s side named “Al-Riffa” and a women’s team named “Al-Manama”.

Al-Riffa men’s team consists of national team star Mustafa Hussain and three professionals, namely Nemanja Draskovic, Milan Skundric, and Anže Srebovt.

Al-Manama women’s team will be composed of players Hessa Al Jaber and Marian Samir, along with two professional players, Julia Jorritsma and Loyce Bettonvil.

Both teams will be coached by experienced coach Abdul Kareem Al-Anzoor, who has previously led our national teams in various international events of this nature.

The event is open to all citizens, residents, and communities to attend. In September of last year, the BOC signed its agreement with FIBA to host the FIBA 3x3 World Tour.

HH Shaikh Isa penned the agreement with Ignacio Soriano, FIBA’s Events and Partnership 3x3 president.