Doha: Al Arabi and Al Rayyan booked their places in the final of the 45th edition of the 2025–2026 QBF Men’s Basketball League after registering semifinal victories at Al Gharafa Hall on Saturday.
Both sides sealed their qualification in the second round of the best-of-three playoff series, setting up a highly anticipated title clash on Monday.
Al Arabi edged past Al Sadd 76–74 in a tightly contested encounter marked by intensity and late drama. Despite trailing 16–22 at the end of the first quarter, Al Arabi mounted a strong comeback in the second period, dominating 28–10 to take control of the game.
Al Sadd responded in the third quarter, outscoring their opponents 25–13 to close the gap, but Al Arabi held their nerve in the final period, securing a narrow 19–17 advantage to clinch victory.
Mustafa Fouda led Al Sadd with an impressive 30 points, while Elmedin Kikanović starred for Al Arabi with 20 points. Khalid Roshdy was named Best Qatari Player of the Match.
In the other semifinal, Al Rayyan completed the final lineup with a 93–88 win over Al Ahli in another closely fought contest.
Al Rayyan held a slim 20–19 lead after the opening quarter, while the second period ended level at 22–22. They maintained their edge in the third quarter (25–22) before sealing the match with a 26–22 fourth-quarter display.
Rolands Freimanis delivered a standout performance, scoring 41 points for Al Rayyan, while Mohamed Hashem Zidan led Al Ahli with 25 points. Babacar Dieng earned the Best Qatari Player award for his contribution.
Al Arabi and Al Rayyan had already gained the upper hand in the first round, defeating Al Sadd 95–78 and Al Ahli 93–69, respectively, paving the way for their progression.
The final between Al Arabi and Al Rayyan will take place on Monday, March 30, with Al Sadd and Al Ahli set to meet in the third-place playoff earlier the same day.
Al Rayyan remains the most successful club in the competition’s history with 18 titles, followed by Al Arabi with 10, while Qatar SC have won seven championships.
