Bahrain make triumphant start

TDT | Manama                                                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain made a winning start last night to their campaign in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers.

The nationals came alive late to defeat their counterparts from the UAE 70-64 in their opening Group F assignment, played at Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town.

With the support of a huge home crowd providing a boost, the Bahrainis used a resounding 10-2 run in the final three minutes to secure the game after the visitors battled back to within three points, 60-57.

The rally was sparked by a pair of Mohammed Ameer freethrows, and then a Mustafa Hussain triple put the victors up 68-57.

The Emiratis never recovered the rest of the way but were able to reduce the deficit at the final buzzer.

Bahrain will be looking to continue their rousing start to their qualification campaign when they return to the hardwood on Monday next week for their second assignment.

They travel to Beirut to take on continental powerhouses Lebanon, who were also winners yesterday.

The Lebanese beat Syria 87-78 in their head-to-head.

In Bahrain’s victory, the nationals came out of the gate on fire and scored the game’s first 11 points for a commanding early advantage.

They led 22-9 at the end of the first period and stayed in front 42-30 at the half.

The third quarter was a low-scoring affair, with the Bahrainis being held to just nine points as the Emiratis inched closer to 42-51 heading into the final stanza.

There, the UAE continued their fightback and tied the proceedings at 55-apiece with just over six minutes left on the clock, but Hussain gave his team the lead for good with a lay-up.

Game-ending That set the stage for the nationals’ decisive, game-ending run just a few possessions later.

Hussain finished as Bahrain’s top scorer with 28 points on 11- of-20 shooting from the field.

Big man Wayne Chism added 10 points and 12 rebounds as their only other player in double figures.

Maitham Jameel chipped in with nine while Ameer had seven. For the UAE, Hassan Hussein was their top man with 17, while Omer Khalid Alameri added 15 in the losing effort.

There are 24 participating nationals teams divided into six groups of four nations each for this first stage of qualification.

These squads will vie for just 16 places at the final tournament. Games are being played over three windows.

The next is scheduled for November, and then the last in February of 2025.

The top two teams of each group qualify for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, while the six thirdplaced teams will play another qualifying tournament for the final four places.

Group A includes Thailand, Australia, South Korea and Indonesia.

Group B features Chinese-Taipei, Hong Kong, the Philippines and New Zealand; while Group C comprises China, Guam, Japan and Mongolia.

In Group D are Iraq, Jordan, Palestine and Saudi Arabia; and Group E are Iran, Kazakhstan, India and Qatar.

The FIBA Asia Cup is the continent’s premier basketball tournament, including teams from FIBA Asia as well as from FIBA Oceania.

Australia are the twotime defending champions. Bahrain are looking to qualify for the event for the 10th time.