Doha – January 5, 2026:
Defending champions Al Arabi secured a victory over Qatar Club with a score of 102-83 in an exciting match held on Monday evening, January 5, 2026, at Al Gharafa Hall. The game was part of the second phase of the 2025-2026 General Basketball League, allowing Al Arabi to return to the top of the standings.
Al Arabi started the game with clear dominance, capitalizing on tight defensive organization and fast breaks that disrupted Qatar’s defense. The team ended the first quarter leading by eight points, 27-19, successfully relying on diversified offense through outside shooting and drives to the basket.
In the second quarter, Al Arabi continued to build on its advantage with organized defense and constant pressure on the ball handler, limiting the options for Qatar’s attack—which tried to narrow the gap but to no avail. The first half ended with Al Arabi leading 48-39.
As the second half began, the title holders maintained their rhythm, benefiting from their players’ experience in game management. Al Arabi reorganized its offense through quick and effective ball movement, successfully widening the gap in the third quarter 28-22 before sealing the win in the fourth quarter 26-23.
The standout star of the match was Bahraini professional Mustafa Hussain of Al Arabi, who scored 23 points and demonstrated exceptional shooting ability from various distances while consistently creating opportunities for his team—a performance that played the biggest role in securing the victory for Al Arabi.
On the other side, Asem Walid Shalfouh was Qatar’s top scorer with 19 points, attempting to keep his team’s chances alive despite the intense defensive pressure imposed by Al Arabi throughout the game.
Al Arabi’s Othman Diata Ding received the Best Qatari Player of the Match award from Mosafer Company in recognition of his outstanding defensive and offensive performance, which made significant contributions to strengthening his team’s dominance.
With this win, Al Arabi raised its tally to 22 points from 12 matches, topping the league table by one point over second-placed Al Rayyan (21 points from 11 matches). Qatar, meanwhile, remained on 14 points, increasing the importance of upcoming rounds in determining the top positions.
In a second match, Al Gharafa defeated Al Shamal 100-73 in an exciting encounter. Al Shamal had taken an early lead by winning the first quarter 19-16, but Al Gharafa forcefully regained control in the second quarter 33-14 and maintained its advantage in the third and fourth quarters with scores of 24-21 and 27-19, respectively.
Joshua Caron Lee Hall led Al Gharafa with a strong offensive display, scoring 41 points, while Shane Legend Rector was Al Shamal’s top performer with 23 points.
Nedim Muslić of Al Gharafa received the Best Qatari Player of the Match award, worth $100 from Mosafer Company, for his excellence throughout the game.
With this victory, Al Gharafa increased its points to 15, placing seventh, while Al Shamal reached 17 points in sixth place.