Doha: Al Arabi Club were crowned champions of the 13th edition of the Qatar Basketball Cup for the 2025–2026 season after defeating Al Shamal 77–71 in the final at Al Gharafa Hall on Thursday. The victory marked Al Arabi’s third successive title.
Al Arabi made a strong start, dominating the opening quarter 24–13 with solid defensive play and capitalising on Al Shamal’s errors. Al Shamal responded in the second quarter, increasing defensive pressure and improving ball movement to take the period 21–17 and reduce the deficit heading into halftime.
After the break, Al Arabi regained control, utilising their squad depth and effective rotation to maintain momentum and close the third quarter 21–16 ahead.
The final quarter produced a tense finish, as Al Shamal rallied and cut the gap significantly, winning the period 21–15. However, Al Arabi held their composure in the closing stages to secure the win and the title.
The triumph takes Al Arabi’s tally to a record five Qatar Basketball Cup titles, surpassing Al Gharafa’s previous mark of four. Qatar SC, Al Sadd, Al Rayyan and Al Wakrah have each won the title once.
Al Shamal’s Tyree Quannell Crump led all scorers with 36 points, while Al Arabi’s Elmedin Kikanović contributed 28 points for the champions.
Following the game, Qatar Basketball Federation President Mohammed bin Saad Al Mughaseeb, Al Arabi Club President H E Sheikh Tamim bin Fahd Al Thani, Al Shamal Club Vice President Abdullah Shamsan Al Sada, and QBF Secretary-General Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari presented the trophy and gold medals to Al Arabi, along with a prize of QR600,000. Al Shamal received silver medals and QR400,000.
Al Arabi had advanced to the final after edging Al Rayyan 104–103 in an overtime thriller in the semi-finals, while Al Shamal secured their place with a 71–56 victory over Al Wakrah.
Al Mughaseeb said the final reflected the steady progress of Qatari basketball, highlighting the high technical level and tactical discipline displayed by both teams. He added that the federation remains committed to developing competitions and enhancing competitiveness to elevate the sport locally and internationally.
Al Kuwari also praised the overall standard of the tournament, noting that the close level among teams contributed to a highly competitive tournament and underscored the positive direction of the sport in terms of organisation and technical quality.
