Bahrainis bow to Saudi in Doha basketball event

TDT | Manama                                                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain bowed to Saudi Arabia 58-68 last night in their concluding game of the Qatar International Basketball Championship in Doha.

The Bahrainis were one of six national teams that took part in the event, which they played as part of their final preparations for the start of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.

The nationals were behind 14- 16 at the end of the first quarter but battled back in the second to take a slim 30-29 lead into the break.

The Saudis then took control in the second half, and led by as many as their 10-point final winning margin.

Wayne Chism was their only player in double figures in the contest, scoring 17 points.

Prolific scoring guard Mustafa Hussain was held to just nine with an off-night from the field, where he went three-of-17.

Marzouq Almuwallad paced the Saudis with 19 while Mathina Almarwani chipped in with 15 in the win. Last night’s loss wrapped up Bahrain’s campaign in Doha.

Head coach Ricard Casas had a 12-player squad in the event, including Chism, Hussain, Mohammed Buallay, Ali Jaber, Mohammed Ameer, Maitham Jameel, Ali Aqeel, Ali Shukrallah, Alwatheq Ali, Abdulqader Saleh Thani, Basel Adel, and Murtadha Salman.

The Bahrainis are set to play their first two games in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers this coming week.

Competing in Group F, the nationals will first host the UAE at home on Friday, before taking on Lebanon on Monday in Beirut.

Bahrain’s qualifying pool also includes Syria, whom they only play for the first time in November later this year.