Muharraq lose WASL play-off opener

TDT | Manama                                                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s Muharraq Club lost the opening game of their Gulf sub-zone playoff against Shabab Al Ahli Dubai 87-97 last night in the 2023/2024 FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL).

Both Muharraq and Shabab Al Ahli are vying for a spot in the Gulf semi-finals.

They are battling it out in this best-of-three elimination round. Yesterday’s game was played at Zain Basketball Arena in Um Al Hassam.

It is to be followed by game two on Monday next week in Dubai, set for a 10pm start, Bahrain time.

Game three, if needed, is scheduled for March 18 back in the Kingdom, with Muharraq playing in front of their home fans.

Bahrain’s other team in the tournament, defending FIBA WASL champions Manama, have already advanced directly to the final four after winning their preliminary round group.

Should Muharraq win this match-up against Shabab Al Ahli, they will face off with Manama in an all-Bahraini last-four match-up, starting on March 26.

That will also be played bestof-three, with game two set for April 2.

Game three, should it be needed, will be held on April 16.

A game for third place in the Gulf sub-zone will then be held on April 22 between the losing semi-finalists, and then the Gulf finals will be held on April 23 and 29, and if needed, May 6.

The top three in the Gulf sub-zone will make it to this season’s FIBA WASL Final Eight along with the best trio from the WASL West Asia sub-zone, along with the champion teams from South Asia and Central Asia.

There, they will all vie for the right to become cage kings of the region in the FIBA WASL’s second edition. In last night’s game, the Emiratis took a commanding 31- 19 lead at the end of the first quarter, but then after going down by as many as 17 in the second, Muharraq roared back to trail by just four, 43-47, at the break.

Both teams then matched each other point for point in the third, and Muharraq trailed 68- 72 heading into the final frame.

There, they tried to stay within striking distance but Shabab Al Ahli came up with the big plays in the closing minutes, and Muharraq could not recover.

The Emiratis stretched their advantage to double figures in the final two minutes, en route to closing out the final 10-point margin.

Newly signed professional Ricky Ledo scored 22 points to pace the Bahrainis.

Tyler Wilkerson added 19 and 13 boards, while Mohammed Juma’a had 18 and Bader Abdulla Malabes 16 in the loss.

For Shabab Al Ahli, Qais Alshehabi led three players with 20 points and above. He finished with 29, while Assan Boye added 25 and Chavaugn Lewis chipped in with 22.