Doha: Al Gharafa Sports Club has been declared the champion of the 3×3 Cubs Basketball League for the 2024-2025 sports season, following an impressive and remarkable performance. They secured their title with a decisive victory over Al Rayyan Club, finishing the final match 18-8, thereby affirming their status as a formidable and promising contender in the realm of basketball.
Al Rayyan Club achieved second place after demonstrating commendable skill throughout the tournament, while Al Sadd overcame Al Ahli 10-8 in the third-place game.
The tournament featured the participation of nine Qatari clubs, organized into three groups. The first group consisted of Al Rayyan, Al Wakra, and Al Khor; the second group included Al Sadd, Qatar Club, and Al Arabi; and the third group comprised Al Gharafa, Al Shamal, and Al Ahli.
This grouping was designed to enhance the competitive nature of the tournament and enrich the sporting experience for the teams, thereby imparting a unique character to the event and intensifying the rivalry among the participating clubs.
Group stage results
The teams participating in the group stage exhibited remarkable competitiveness, highlighted by several notable victories. Al Rayyan achieved a significant win against Al Wakrah with a score of 15-4, while Al Sadd demonstrated their dominance over Qatar Club, winning 13-3. Al Gharafa also secured an impressive victory against Al Shamal, finishing with a score of 14-1.
Additionally, Al Wakrah triumphed over Al Khor with a close score of 7-5, and Al Arabi matched this score in their victory against Qatar Club. Al Ahli recorded a commanding win against Al Shamal, concluding the match at 10-1. Al Rayyan maintained their strong performance by defeating Al Khor 11-3, and Al Sadd added another victory against Al Arabi with a score of 7-4. Al Gharafa capped off their exceptional group stage run by overpowering Al Ahli with a score of 18-6 in the final matches.
The excitement escalated during the semi-finals, where Al Rayyan faced Al Ahli in a thrilling encounter that concluded with a narrow victory for Al Rayyan, ending the match at 7-6. This match showcased the exceptional skills of the players from both teams, reflecting a high standard of performance. In the second semi-final, Al Gharafa triumphed over Al Sadd with a score of 15-9, thereby securing their place in the final and drawing closer to the championship title.
Al Gharafa win championship
In the fianl, Al Gharafa demonstrated total dominance over Al Rayyan, showcasing a formidable performance that culminated in a decisive victory with a score of 18-8, thereby securing the championship of the 3×3 Youth Basketball League. The Al Gharafa team was notable for its unity in both offensive and defensive strategies, coupled with an exceptional team spirit, which ultimately justified their claim to the title.
Encouraging young talents
For his part, Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari, Secretary-General of Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF), expressed his pride in the level of performance presented by the teams participating in the tournament, praising the efforts of the players and coaches in providing distinguished competitions that reflect the great progress witnessed by Qatari basketball in the age groups.
“We at the Qatar Basketball Federation are working to provide a supportive environment for the development of age groups, as we believe that this category is the basis for building a new generation of distinguished players, capable of competing locally and internationally,” Al Kuwari added.
Al Kuwari also pointed out that the Federation will continue to organize such tournaments to provide opportunities for competition and practice for young players, which will contribute to enhancing and refining their skills, and will work to establish a sports culture in Qatari society.