Seeb secure crucial win over Nizwa

MUSCAT, FEB 15

Seeb booked a place in the final of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY) Basketball Shield 2024-2025after securing a 79-68 victory over Nizwa in a highly competitive match. The game, which saw intense rivalry between the two teams, was held at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex's in Bausher.

Seeb's scoring was led by Kyl Jordan, Romeo Wilfred, Rashid al Zuhaibi, and Noah al Amri, while Nizwa’s standout players included Saif al Toubi, Hussein al Kindi, Qasim al Qasimi, Basil al Subhi, and Agassi Tounion.

Both teams entered the game with high energy. Saif al Toubi opened the scoring for Nizwa, but Rashid al Zuhaibi quickly responded for Seeb with a successful free throw. The first quarter saw a fast paced exchange of attacks and points, with both teams scoring 22 points until the final minute. Kyl Jordan then added a two pointer for Seeb, but Nizwa equalised in the last seconds to end the first quarter 24-24.

Seeb started the second quarter with strong offensive pressure, capitalising on Nizwa’s rushed passes to intercept the ball and convert them into points. Romeo Wilfred shined with multiple successful three pointers. Meanwhile, Nizwa struggled to break through Seeb’s defence, relying on long range shots that lacked accuracy. Seeb outscored Nizwa 21-12 in this quarter, finishing the first half with a 45-36 lead.

Nizwa came back strong in the third quarter, determined to reduce the gap. They started with six consecutive points from Agassi Tounion and Qasim al Qasimi, forcing Seeb’s coach to call a timeout to reorganise the defence. Saif al Toubi and Basil al Subhi then hit successful three pointers, cutting the deficit to just one point at 53-52. However, Seeb quickly regained control, with Mazen al Hadidi sinking two consecutive shots, followed by Noah al Amri and Rashid al Zuhaibi, who combined for six straight points, closing the quarter with Seeb leading 60-55.

Final Quarter – Seeb Secure the Win Both teams entered the final quarter with high concentration. Nizwa continued pushing to narrow the gap, and Qasim al Qasimi scored five consecutive points, bringing the score to 70-68 in Seeb’s favour. However, Kyl Jordan responded with a successful drive, followed by a free throw from Rashid al Zuhaibi, extending Seeb’s lead. Jordan added another basket from under the rim and a successful free throw, increasing the lead to 77-68. Seeb capitalised on Nizwa’s aggressive offence in the final minutes, with Jordan adding another two points, sealing the victory at 79 68 and becoming the first team to qualify for the final.

The match was managed by a refereeing team consisting of international referee Ahmed bin Darwish al Balushi (first referee), international Rashid al Mushaifri (second referee), and Ali al Salmani (third referee), while Omaima al Hajri, Saeed al Ghammari and Fatima al Harthy supervised the table.