Dubai: Egypt’s Al Ahli became the first team to enter the semi-finals of the Second Dubai International Junior Basketball Championships with an effortless 57-44 win over Al Shabab, Dubai at American University in Dubai (AUD) courts on Wednesday.
One of two teams coming into the knockout stages with an unbeaten record — with tournament favourites Partizan Belgrade, Serbia being the other — the Egyptians maintained their tempo throughout the 32 minutes of play to book their place in the last four stages.
They will now await the winners of the third quarter-final between Al Riyadhi, Jordan and Bayern Munich that was scheduled to be held later Wednesday.
“I am pleased with the performance of my team, and particularly happy because they carried out the instructions that I gave them before the start of the game,” Al Ahli coach Ahmad Al Garhi told Gulf News.
“It doesn’t matter which team we have to play in the semi-final. We just need to come on court and play our basketball and the results will follow,” he added.
The Al Ahli front-line was effective and this showed as they led 11-1 midway through the opening period, the lone point for the home team coming from a charity shot.
The home team tried to break through the Al Ahli defence and managed to stay in the game, thanks to skipper Abdullah Mohammad and Saeed Gaffar occasionally finding the basket.
But it was always going to be an uphill battle against a better built side consisting of Adam Khalid, Abdul Rahman Ahmad and Moonem Mohammad as the Egyptians cantered ahead 19-6 at the end of the first eight minutes. They upped the pressure in the second quarter to sail away with a handy 20-point cushion with a lead of 37-17 at half-time.
In the third period, the home side managed to do well while outscoring Al Ahli 11-7, but the Egyptians still maintained their lead at 44-28.
The home team came alive in the final period. But reducing the margin of loss was all they could achieve as Al Ahli signed off with the final score reading 57-44 at the end.
Held in cooperation with the UAE Basketball Association and AUD, the second edition of the championships has Emirates, Al Naboudah Audi, the Events Organisation Committee, Medeor Hospital and Vertex Trading LLC, along with main partners Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, Aquafina, Almarai, Khalifa Tower, Pocari Sweat, Ronaldo’s Spago and Bonton as backers.
RESULT
Al Ahli, Egypt def. Al Shabab, Dubai 57-44.
