Defending champions Manama powered past bitter rivals Muharraq 74-68 last night in a clash between titans in the 2024-25 Zain Bahrain Basketball League.
Manama were dominant in the game, going up by as many as 22 points, while maintaining a double-digit advantage until the final two minutes.
Muharraq tried to rally in the end but their run came too late, although they managed to reduce the end-game losing margin to a respectable six points.
Clinton Chapman had 14 points and nine rebounds to spearhead the victors in the contest. Tony Carr chipped in with 13 and seven assists, while Hasan Nowrooz contributed 12 – all from beyond the three-point line – and court general Ahmed Salman had 10.
Tony Mitchell paced Muharraq with 22 points in the defeat while Mohammed Ameer – facing his long-time former team for only the second time – added 15 points and nine boards. He was their only other player to score in double figures.
Muharraq were the early aggressors but Manama still went ahead at the end of the first quarter 21-20 following a Nowrooz triple. They then blew the game wide open with a lopsided second-quarter, where they poured in 29 points and held Muharraq to just eight, coming away with a 50-28 cushion at the half.
Muharraq tried to battle back but still faced a 47-60 hole heading into the final period, where Manama did enough to stave off their opponents.
With the result, Manama remained undefeated so far in their five games this season in the Premier League. They handed Muharraq their second loss to go with four wins.
Meanwhile, in yesterday’s other fixture in League B, Samaheej battled past Isa Town 69-60.
Basel Adel and Mohammed Abdulla Jaffar combined for 53 of Samaheej’s total output to lead their team to the win. Adel had 32 points and also grabbed nine rebounds, while Jaffar finished with 21 and eight boards.
Hussain Mahdi was the lead man for Isa Town with 14, while Jehad Ahmed added 13.
Samaheej improved to take their third win in five games while Isa Town suffered their third loss to go with two victories.
League action continues on Thursday.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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