BASKETBALL – DEFENDING champions Manama maintained their unbeaten start to the 2024-25 Zain Bahrain Basketball League with a resounding 86-67 victory over bitter rivals Al Ahli last night at Zain Basketball Arena in Um Al Hassam.
Manama led the entire game and went up by as many as 23 points in the Premier League affair.
They powered ahead 18-10 at the end of the first quarter and stretched their advantage to 38-23 at the half. Manama built a commanding 50-27 cushion on a Tony Carr basket near the mid-way point of the third and then did well to close things out in the final frame, where they gave Ahli no chance to get close.
Carr finished with a game-high 23 points and had eight rebounds to go with eight assists to lead a balanced Manama attack. Mohammed Kowayed chipped in with 13 while Clinton Chapman had 12 points and 11 rebounds and AJ John had 12 points and 10 rebounds in the win.
Jordan Stevens and Maitham Jameel scored 22 points apiece for Ahli in the losing effort, but they were their only players in double figures.
With the result, Manama returned to the top of the Premier League standings with their fourth win in as many games while Ahli suffered their first defeat in three outings.
Both sides are also representing the kingdom in this season’s Fiba West Asia Super League Gulf sub-zone.
In yesterday’s other league contest, Nuwaidrat routed Samaheej 100-68 in League B action.
Malik Wineglass scored 33 for the victors while Ahmed Fateel had 16 in the loss.
Nuwaidrat claimed their third win in as many outings in League B while Samaheej were handed their first loss in three tries.
League action continues tonight with Isa Town facing Sitra at 5pm in League B followed by Al Ettihad and Al Najma locking horns at 7pm in the Premier League.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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