- Jala'a and ASU pretty much played all-local in defeating Ittihad and Duhok respectively. This shows the quality of each squad and the power of their NT since the cores of these teams represent their respective NTs too. Jordan, in particular, should be much stronger when they have a complete roster including Zaid Al-Khas, Rasheim Wright, Jamal Abu-Shamala and Jamal Maaytah.
- It was a heartbreaking defeat for Gilas as they proved to be at par with the Iranians. I'm not so sure if I agree with Rajko Toroman saying that Mahram is stronger than the real Iran NT (well they do have 2 big imports!), but they did show a lot of strength on defense and in rebounding. They also emphasized Gilas's perennial weakness, which is size at the 4 and 3 positions. Nobody could guard Bahrami!
- Al Riyadi coasted past Qatar and they are the favorites to upend Mahram in today's championship match. It should be another classic mano-a-mano affair between Fadi El Khatib and Samad Nikkhah Bahrami!
Predictions: ASU over Al Jala'a in a close match, Duhok over Ittihad in single digits, Gilas over Rayyan in less than 5 and Riyadi repeats over Mahram in a nail-biter.
Results:
Al Jala'a (SYR) over Al Ittihad (KSA), 85-77
Al Jala'a (SYR) 85 -- Yakoub 17, Papazian 16, Yaqqub 16, Miller 13, Madanly 12, Gorges 7, Haj Ishak 2, Deeb 2
Al Ittihad (KSA) 77 -- Dragajlovic 16, Al Maghrabi 16, Kelly 15, Al Juhani 13, Kabe 9, Al Madani 8
Quarter scoring: 18-16, 43-38, 69-59, 85-77  |
| Adil Al Juhani led the way for Ittihad (image from FIBAAsia.net) |
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| Marcelle Yaqqub spins to the baseline (image from FIBAAsia.net) |
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| Michael Madanly splits the defense (image from FIBAAsia.net) |
ASU (JOR) over Duhok (IRQ), 98-90
ASU (JOR) 98 -- Abbaas 32, Dahglas 17, Soobzokov 14, Abbas 13, Mohammad 13, Al Sous 6, Abuqoura 3, Al Hamarsheh 0
Duhok (IRQ) 90 -- Giles 24, Al Doori 19, Hamad 18, Al Tameemi 12, Mahdi D. 6, Mahdi S. 6, Al Juboori 5, Agha 0
Quarter scoring: 30-17, 50-43, 67-69, 98-90
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| Enver Soobzokov goes on a lefty drive (image from FIBAAsia.net) |
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| Sam Dahglas dunks in transition (Image from FIBAAsia.net) |
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| Zaid Abbas battles with CJ Giles (image from FIBAAsia.net) |
Mahram (IRN) over Smart-Gilas (PHL), 80-77
Mahram (IRN) 80 -- Bahrami 19, Kamrani 17, Samb 17, Williams 16, Afagh 11, Nezafat 0, Davari 0, Davoudi 0, Sahakian 0, Kardoust 0
Smart-Gilas (PHL) 77 -- Douthit 25, Casio 21, Aguilar 8, Lassiter 8, Tiu 7, Lutz 4, Barroca 2, Hontiveros 2, Taulava 0, Baracael 0
Quarter scoring: 20-21, 45-39, 62-62, 80-77
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| Cheikh Samb and Marcus Douthit go head-to-head (image from FIBAAsia.net) |
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| Iran's Samad Nikkhah Bahrami was the biggest thorn on the PInoys' side (image from FIBAAsia.net) |
Al Riyadi (LIB) over Al Rayyan (QAT), 71-52
Al Riyadi (LIB) 71 -- Ahmed 25, El Khatib 18, Kanaan 6, Woods 6, Ibrahim 5, Abd El Nour 4, Mahmoud 4, El Turk 3, Akl 0, Pharis 0
Al Rayyan (QAT) 52 -- Ngombo 15, Musa 13, Leslie 12, Cuffee 8, Saeed 2, Salem 2, Ali 0, Malek 0, Ndour 0
Quarter scoring: 19-8, 38-21, 53-35, 71-52
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| Fadi El Khatib didn't even allow the Qataris to get close in this one (image from FIBAAsia.net) |
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