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Hoops Club of Lebanon get the better of UAE
DUBAI - Debutants Hoops Club of Lebanon defeated hosts UAE 86-69 in their Group A match of the 22nd Dubai International Basketball Championship at the Al Ahli sports hall on Friday night.
William Byrd of the US scored a game high of 25 points while teammate Calvin Cage added 24 to see off the hosts.
Rashid Nasser was the top scorer for UAE with 24 points and teammate Ibrahim Khalfan chipped in with 14 points.
The hosts matched their opponents in the first two quarters where they trailed by just three points 26-23 at one stage.
Ibrahim Khalifa and Rashid Nasser spearheaded UAE’s attack and managed to reduce the scores 47-44, 50-44 before the end of the second quarter.
Hoops, however, changed their tactics in the third and fourth quarters, building attacks mostly from the flanks. The two Americans, Byrd and Cage, did most of the damage with some dazzling runs, coupled with fine shots.
The pair got strong support from Robert Bou Dagher and Mohammed Hamdar raising the scores to 69-57 in the third quarter.
Cage shot a three-pointer for Hoops but UAE’s Rashid Nasser responded in style with a similar three-pointer to close the third quarter. The Lebanese piled on the pressure immediately in the fourth quarter and went further in front 78-63.
Mohammed Ghuloom and Rashid Nasser made several attempts to pull UAE into the match but Hoops held on to grab an 88-69 victory.
Dr Munir Habib, technical director of the UAE Basketball Association, said the match gave them the opportunity to try some new players.
“This is a young team and their performance is above average and we are satisfied with it.”
Ittihad of Egypt, meanwhile, shocked last year’s semifinalists, Smart Gilas (DDF) of the Philippines, 85-72 in their Group B match.
Gilas, the national team of the Philippines, was in control in the early phases of the match as they led 9-7, 12-9.
But Ittihad, representing First Security Group, took charge and did not look back from there on to clinch a thrilling victory.
Al Wahda of Syria also notched a hard-fought 77-70 victory over Sharjah in another Group B encounter. Al Wahda took the opening quarter 19-14 but Sharjah were on level 18-18 in the second before taking the third quarter 25-22.
Al Wahda, however, fought back in the final quarter to win 18-13 and the match.
Sunday matches: (5pm) Emirates Airline v Sharjah Club; 7pm: Al Ittihad (Egypt) v Al Wahda (Syria); 9pm: Sagesse (Lebanon) v Hoops (Lebanon).
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