The matches of the Oman Basketball League (OBL) for the 2023-2024 season kicked off with Oman Club winning against Dhofar 80-38 and Al Bashayer winning against Nizwa 84-77. These matches took place at the secondary hall of the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher.
In the first match, Oman Club took the lead in scoring due to the experience of their players and good handling of the game. Players like Musab al Wahaibi, Fahad al Ajmi, Abdullah al Qasmi, Maaz Ambusaidi and Haitham Bani Arabeh stood out in utilising opportunities and contributing to the team's victory.
In the first quarter, Oman Club took an early lead with a basket by Haitham Bani Arabeh, followed by Dhofar scoring two points through Ahmed Abu Hamar. Oman Club maintained a narrow lead of 14-12 by the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Oman Club continued to dominate, extending their lead and scoring 24 points through Maaz Ambusaidi, Bassam al Musalmi, Fahad al Ajmi and Musab al Wahaibi. Dhofar managed to score only 9 points, and at half-time, Oman Club led 38-21.
In the third quarter, Oman Club continued their offensive dominance and scored 21 points, while Dhofar only managed to score 6 points. By the end of the third quarter, Oman Club were ahead at 59-27.
In the fourth quarter, Oman Club maintained their offensive superiority, adding 21 more points, while Dhofar scored 11 points. The game ended with Oman Club defeating Dhofar 80-38.
The match was officiated by the international referees Essam al Siyabi as the first referee, Ahmed al Khasibi as the second referee and Mahdi al Awli as the third referee. The table officials were Jamal al Hinai, Mahmoud al Ajmi and Shareefa al Zadjali.
Al Bashayer defeat Nizwa
In the second match, Al Bashayer managed to overcome Nizwa 84-77 in a competitive game. Al Bashayer had the upper hand for most of the period, with notable performances from Said al Saadi, Osama al Riyami, Bassam al Busaidi, Ahmed al Halhali, Mahmoud al Souli and Adel al Battashi, contributing significantly to their victory. Nizwa had standout performances from Amjad al Hadidi and professional player Nef McCard, Mohammed al Anqoodi and Saif al Tubi.
The first quarter saw Al Bashayer take the lead, demonstrating offensive prowess and solid defence against Nizwa's attacks. Al Bashayer began scoring through Said al Saadi's shot from under the basket, followed by a two-point play by Osama al Riyami. However, Saif al Tubi of Nizwa managed to score two points from a free-throw. The first quarter ended with Al Bashayer leading Nizwa 24-12.
In the second quarter, the performance shifted, especially from Nizwa, who improved from their performance in the first quarter. Nizwa managed to score 18 points, while Al Bashayer scored 15 points, and at half time, Al Bashayer led 39-30.
In the third quarter, Al Bashayer continued their offensive superiority, adding 19 more points, while Nizwa scored 16 points. At the end of the third quarter, Al Bashayer was leading Nizwa 58-46.
In the fourth quarter, despite Nizwa's offensive efforts, Al Bashayer's defence managed to repel most of the attacks. Nizwa scored 18 points, while Al Bashayer scored 19 points, resulting in Al Bashayer's victory over Nizwa by 84-77.
The match was officiated by international referees Ahmed al Balushi as the first referee, Majid al Akhzami as the second referee and Ali al Suleimani as the third referee. The table officials were Hafiz Oulad Ahmed, Jumaa al Hinai, Yakoub al Nadabi and Younes al Zadjali.
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