Qatar Basketball

Al Arabi bags Heir Apparent Cup Title

Mansour Elhadary spearheaded an 8-2 assault in the final two minutes of the game to lead Al Arabi to a come-from-behind 76-73 victory over El Jaish last night at the Al Gharafa Indoor Arena and conquer their second HH Heir Apparent championship since 2007.

Trailing 68-71 and time not on their side, Elhadary took over from the hurting Jalloh Abdullah and scattered 7 of Arabi’s last points including the game clinching two charity shots to seal the  win.

Al Arabi led 10-9 early in the game with Abdullah taking charge but El Jaish tightened their defense and put on a 9-0 run behind tournament Most Valuable Player Baker Mohammed who pushed Army to an 18-14 advantage at the end of the first period.

Baker pursued the attack and kept his team soaring ahead 27-17 midway in the second period but fell into foul trouble forcing Coach Erik Rashad to rest his ace gunner. 

With Baker and Fadi Abilmona on the bench, Al Arabi unleashed a 15-2 barrage to regain the lead before halftime break.

Both squads fought tooth and nail in the third period and while without the prolific tandem of Fadi and Baker on the floor, Al Arabi fell behind 49-56 before closing the gap 53-56 entering the final period.

William Byrd waxed hot early in the final quarter, combining with Mansour to give Al Arabi a seemingly comfortable lead, 68-63, with 4:30 in the game clock.

All seemed lost at this point for Coach Rashad as Baker left the game after committing his fifth foul until Aleoni Se took charge and scattered 6 consecutive points to push El Jaish back in the driver’s seat, 71-68.

But Al Arabi would not be denied this chance for the championship, and Mansour like a wounded warrior upped his game three notches higher in the endgame to map out an 8-2 assault that gave Coach Hatem Malouk and his team their second HAC title in five years.

El Jaish dethrone Al Gharafa, battles Al Arabi in finals

El Jaish unleashed a pestering trapping defense late in the first quarter onto the third period of the ballgame en route to an 85-71 shocking dethronement of defending champions Al Gharafa last night in the main game of the Heir Apparent Cup. 

Fadi Abilmona and Baker Mohammed took centre stage and combined efforts to lead their team to the victory that placed them on collision course with Al Arabi which on the other hand upset powerhouse Al Rayyan in the first game.

Fadi delivered 21 points and collared 5 rebounds aside from taking command of his team’s dominance over their rivals on the defensive end. Baker contributed a high game-high 25 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists for another stellar performance.

Coach Erik Rashad banked on his awesome duo and drew the best out of his bench to masterfully unseat the reigning titlists.

Earlier in the other semifinal match Al Arabi cashed-in 8 of their last points off desperation fouls in the dying seconds of the ball game to stun favorite Al Rayyan, 88-80.

Jalloh Abdullah played superb and steady basketball all night, scoring 22 points and 7 assists aside from out hustling his counterparts on both ends, to lead his team to a surprising yet  convincing win over tournament favorite Al Rayyan.

Trailing 60-66 at the end of the third quarter, Abdullah waxed hot at the beginning of the final period and led an 11-2 uprising to push Al Arabi ahead, 71-68, before sitting it out after committing his fourth foul with more than five minutes remaining in the ball game. 

Alvin Mofunanya took the cudgels from Abdullah at this point and combined with William Byrd to keep Al Arabi in the lead, 76-73, entering the final minutes of the game.

Jalloh came back and resumed his game-long juggernaut, scoring on successive outside bombs to keep them ahead, 81-75 and douse their rivals’ last ditch stand.

At this stage, Coach Brian Rowsom’s wards played catch up basketball, muffing consecutive opportunities to the basket and committing desperation fouls on the defensive end.

Al Arabi took the first quarter, 17-16 but Tanguy Ngombo, Yaseen Mousa and Chauncey Leslie combined efforts to push the QML champions to a 43-41 advantage before the break.

Coach Rowsom fielded Hardin back in the game in the third and made life in the shaded area difficult for Mofunanya and Byrd while Leslie and Ngombo kept puncturing the hoops on the offensive end to keep Al Rayyan on top at the end of the third canto.

Hereon Abdullah’s splendid performance took the limelight as Ngombo and company watched in awe.

El Jaish and Al Arabi clash today at 6:30 pm in the winner-take-all championship match at the Al Gharafa Indoor Arena.

Meanwhile, the organizers invite the public to grace the game and earn chance to be picked out and shoot for QR 10,000, QR 500 and QR 300 from the midcourt, 3-point arc and the foul throw lane, respectively.