- PHEW! That was quite a day of FIBA hoops!
- Ittihad blasted the Dragons and secured the 3rd spot in Group A. Mahram is up next for them. Yahoo.
- Mahram handily scuttles the Qataris thanks to their imports Chris Williams and Cheikh Samb. They'll probably coast against the Saudis en route to a probable clash with the home favorites in the semis. (cross your fingers!)
- The Lebanese Tiger pretty much rested against the Syrians in preparation for the latter rounds. He wasn't really needed as Riyadi unloaded their hidden weapons in William Carl Pharis and Omar Saoud. They seem to be more potent than advertised.
- The Pinoys and Jordanians had another classic battle to end the day. It was a scintillating affair that saw multiplt lead changes and tense moments. WOW! It was the hardwood version of a page-turner! Thank God Gilas won! Now we don't have to face our old nemesis, the Qataris, in the quarters.
- Predictions for Friday's quarterfinal matches: Gilas over Al Jala's, but in a close one (yes, mark my words a close one!), ASU over Al Rayyan in another tight contest, Mahram blows out Ittihad, and Riyadi destroys Duhok.
Results:
Al Ittihad (KSA) over WKL Dragons (MAS), 98-76
Al Ittihad (KSA) 98 -- Kelly 36, Dragajlovic 32, Al Juhani 2, Al Maghrabi 7, Kabe 5, Ibrahim 4, Al Harbi 2, Al Shamrani 0, Al Madani 0, Al Hosawi 0
WKL Dragons (MAS) 76 -- Loh 19, Morrison 17, Ayer 15, Ho 9, Batumalai 6, Kwaan 6, Ooi 4, Kuppusamy 0, Chin 0, Kamaruddin 0, Ng 0
Quarter scoring: 25-24, 63-42, 76-59, 98-76
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| Ahmed Al Hosawi fronts Yoong Jing Kwaan (image from FIBAAsia.net) |
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| Yeow Loong Ho backs up against Darren Kelly (image from FIBAAsia.net) |
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| Vladislav Dragajlovic is challenged by Marcus Morrison (image from FIBAAsia.net) |
Mahram (IRN) over Al Rayyan (QAT), 81-64
Mahram (IRN) 81 -- Williams 23, Samb 16, Afagh 16, Bahrami 13, Sahakian 6, Kamrani 4, Davoudichegani 3, Kardoust 0, Rouzbahani 0
Al Rayyan (QAT) 64 -- Leslie 20, Salem 14, Musa 11, Ngombo 6, Cuffee 5, Ndour 4, Ali 2, Saeed 2, Malek 0
Quarter scoring: 18-16, 40-36, 62-51, 81-64
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| Hamed Afagh escapes on the break(image from FIBAAsia.net) |
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| Ali Turki Ali tries to block Iranian ace Samad Nikkhah Bahrami(image from FIBAAsia.net) |
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| Yaseen Musa hauls the rebound with authority(image from FIBAAsia.net) |
Al Riyadi (LIB) over Al Jala'a (SYR), 86-73
Al Riyadi (LIB) 86 -- Saoud 28, El Turk 18, Pharis 18, Fakhreddine 9, Ibrahim 7, Kanaan 6, El Khatib 0
Al Jala'a (SYR) 73 -- Merjaneh 16, Miller 14, Madanly 10, Ishak 9, Walker 6, Papazian 4, Deeb 4, Yaqqub 4, Yakoub 4, Gorges 2
Quarter scoring: 15-20, 39-36, 59-51, 86-73
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| Fadi El Khatib practically had a day-off(image from FIBAAsia.net) |
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| Mohamad Ibrahim calls a play against Rami Merjaneh(image from FIBAAsia.net) |
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| Wissam Yakoub and Ali Fakhreddine engage in a box-out battle(image from FIBAAsia.net) |
Smart-Gilas (PHL) over ASU (JOR), 76-74
Smart-Gilas (PHL) 76 -- Hontiveros 23, Douthit 14, Casio 12, Baracael 9, Barroca 6, Taulava 4, Tiu 4, Lassiter 2, Lutz 2, Aguilar 0
ASU (JOR) 74 -- Watkins 25, Abbas 20, Dahglas 17, Mohammad 6, Al Sous 4, Soobzokov 2, Al Awadi 0, Abbaas 0
Quarter scoring: 12-16, 27-28, 45-46, 76-74
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| Well-rested Zaid Abbas was a force inside for the Jordanians(image from FIBAAsia.net) |
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| Mark Barroca escapes the outstretched arms of Mousa Al Awadi(image from FIBAAsia.net) |
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| Jayvee Casio scored 12 points & dished out 7 dimes for Gilas(image from FIBAAsia.net) |
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