Qatar Basketball

Al Gharafa knock mighty El Jaish out of Qatar Cup

Al Rayyan Club cruise into semi-finals - Last year’s runners-up Al Gharafa Club took advantage of an early revenge opportunity and power forward Sammy Monroe Jr led them to a superb comeback 91-85 victory over QBF League champions El Jaish with a marvelous triple-double in the Qatar Cup Basketball Championship on Wednesday.

With this triumph, Al Gharafa not only qualified for the semi-finals against Qatar Sports Club on March 26, they also ended a rich 21-match winning streak of the army team as well.

In another match, defending champions Al Rayyan Club brushed aside Al Wakrah Club’s resistance, cruising to a 78-62 victory in another quarter-final match. Next, they will take on Al Arabi for a place in the final.

At the Al Rayyan Club Indoor Hall, Al Gharafa, who finished second to El Jaish in the League after having lost both their matches, trailed as many as by 17 points in the second quarter (27-44). And their defeat loomed large.

However, a pulsating recovery was launched by bench players Nedim Muslic and Malek Seleem Abdulla in the closing stages of the second quarter, which saw El Jaish still with a healthy advantage 45-31).

Then Al Gharafa produced a 12-0 run in the beginning of the third 10-minute play, with all the five starting players chipping in, and they came within two points to drawing level (43-45).

After that there was tight battle between the two for the decisive lead. Point guard Mansour Atif Elhadary hit a jumper to put El Jaish ahead 54-53) with 2:14 left. Monroe responded it with a trey and after that, Al Gharafa gradually started to gain control of the proceedings with a 30-12 scoring edge.

With four points ahead at the start of the fourth quarter, Al Gharafa Club point guards Abdulrahman Mohamed, Michael Taylor and Monroe kept sinking their shots. Within four minutes, they pulled clear by 10 points twice. The lead was later widened to 12 points with 1:41 remained in the clock.

Under pressure, El Jaish attempted hard to cut down the gap. Sadly, it was not their day and Al Gharafa ended victors by six points.

For Al Gharafa, all the first five players scored in double digits. Monroe led with 21. He also collected 23 rebounds and produced 10 assists. Taylor added 18, shooting guard Hassino Ndoye landed 15, while centre Omar Abdelkader Salem had 11.

Centre Vernon Leon Macklin was the highest scorer for El Jaish. His double-double had 21 points and 12 rebounds. Small forward Erfan Ali Saeed contributed 19. So did point guard Dominic James Davon and swingman Mohd Yousuf Mohammed grabbed 12 rebounds and got six points.

Al Rayyan Club and Al Wakrah Club battled each other and were locked on four occasions in the opening quarter. But a dunk by centre Marcus Bell sent them four points clear at the end (17-13). Then Al Rayyan Club consolidated themselves, getting a fine 26-9 scoring edge in the second 10 minutes play.

In the post-interval period, Al Wakrah Club tried to regain the ground through forward Olatunbo Ayeni and point guard Larry Blair II but it was too much to ask for.

Veteran forward Tanguy Ngombo posted 21 points for Al Rayyan Club, who were ahead by 24 points at one stage (46-22). Shooting guard Mohamed Hassan Mohamed and new point guard Addison Spruill added 16 each. Bell recorded a double-double (10 points and 20 rebounds).

For Al Wakrah, Ayeni top-scored with 27 points, along with 17 rebounds. Blair netted 18 points.

Results
Al Gharafa Club beat El Jaish 91-85 (halftime 31-45)
Main performers – Al Gharafa Club: Sammy Monroe Jr 21 pts, 23 rebounds and 10 assists, Michael Taylor 18 pts, Hassino Ndoye 15 pts, Omar Abdelkader Salem 11 pts
El Jaish: Vernon Leon Macklin 21 pts & 12 rebounds, Erfan Ali Saeed 19 pts, Dominic James Davon 19 pts, Mohd Yousuf Mohammed 6 pts & 12 rebounds

Al Rayyan Club beat Al Wakrah Club 78-62 (halftime 43-22)
Main performers – Al Rayyan Club: Tanguy Ngombo 21 pts, Mohamed Hassan Mohamed 16 pts, Addison Spruill 16 pts, Marcus Bell 10 pts & 20 rebounds
Al Wakrah Club: Olatunbo Ayeni 27 pts & 17 rebounds, Larry Blair II 18 pts

Next fixtures (March 26)
At Al Rayyan Club Hall
5:00 pm – Qatar SC vs Al Gharafa Club
7:00 pm – Al Arabi Club vs Al Rayyan Club

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Raajiv Tripathi
Sports Editor
Qatar Tribune,