Doha: Al-Arabi, the reigning champions, advanced to the semi-finals of the 2024-2025 Amir Cup Basketball Championship despite suffering a significant 143-97 defeat against Al-Sadd during the final round of the group stage on Thursday evening at Al-Gharafa Sports Hall.
Al-Arabi secured their place in the last four by accumulating seven points, finishing at the top of their group, while Al-Ahli also ended with seven points but placed second. Al-Sadd, with six points, was eliminated from the group stage.
The match showcased exceptional offensive skills and thrilling moments from both teams. Al-Arabi took an early lead, winning the first quarter 33-30, utilizing quick transitions and effective mid-range shooting.
However, Al-Sadd made a strong comeback in the second quarter, establishing a significant advantage of 35-18, largely due to the outstanding performance of their American player, Archie Lee Goodwin, who scored 38 points, becoming the top scorer of the game.
As Al-Arabi struggled to maintain their defensive and offensive flow, Al-Sadd continued to assert their dominance in the third quarter with a score of 37-25, characterized by excellent teamwork and physical play. In the final quarter, Al-Sadd further increased their lead to 41-21, ultimately winning the game by a substantial margin of 46 points.
Mustafa Hussein, the standout player from Al Arabi, led the team as the highest scorer with 21 points, showcasing an impressive performance despite the intense pressure exerted by Al Sadd on their key players. Although Al Arabi faced a significant defeat, their earlier successes in the group provided them with a points lead that ensured their first-place finish, placing them ahead of Al Ahli, who fell to second with 7 points.
In a separate game, Al Gharafa secured a thrilling victory against Qatar SC, winning 98-80. Al Gharafa commenced the game with a strong performance, taking the first quarter 25-15, and maintained their superiority in the second quarter with a score of 23-18.
They continued to dominate in the third quarter, winning 24-13. Although Qatar SC made a comeback in the fourth quarter, winning it 34-26, it was not enough to change the outcome of the match.
Consequently, Al Gharafa increased their total to 6 points, positioning themselves in third place, while Qatar SC remained in fifth and last place with 4 points. Maki Zion Juan Richard from Al Gharafa SC was named the best player of the game, scoring 36 points, while Dejan Janic led Qatar SC with 34 points. The Group B competitions concluded with Al Rayyan Club advancing to the semi-finals after finishing first in the group with 6 points from three consecutive victories. Al Wakrah secured second place with 5 points, followed by Al Shamal with 4 points. They will play the “round robin” stage with the second- and third-place finishers in Group A.
Al Ahli, runner-up in Group A, will meet Al Shamal, third in Group B, at 5:00 PM on May 12, 2025.
Al Gharafa, third in Group A, will meet Al Wakrah, runner-up in Group B, at 7:00 PM on the same day.
Both game will be played in a knockout format at Al Gharafa Sports Hall. The winners will advance to face Al Arabi and Al Rayyan, who have qualified for the semi-finals. The semi-final matches will be played on a best-of-three basis. The winners will advance to the final on May 22, 2025, where the final will be played over a single game.
