Muscat: Nizwa Club clinched third place in the 2024-2025 Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth Basketball Shield Championship after a well-earned 67-57 victory over Ahli Sidab in an exciting match held at the secondary hall of the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher.
The match saw fluctuating performances from both teams, with Nizwa asserting its dominance, particularly in the decisive second quarter. Standout players for Nizwa included Agassi Tonion, Mohammed al Anqoudi and Saif al Toubi, who played a key role in securing the win. On the other hand, Ahli Sidab’s top performers were Adel al Battashi, Jilin Key and Haitham Bani Araba.
The match began at a high tempo, with Saif al Toubi opening the scoring for Nizwa with a three-pointer. Ahli Sidab quickly responded with a two-pointer from Jilin Key, but Mohammed al Anqoudi added another three-pointer, giving Nizwa an early 6-2 advantage. Both teams exchanged attacks, with Nizwa adding 11 points compared to Ahli Sidab’s 13. The first quarter ended with Nizwa leading 17-15.
In the second quarter, Nizwa took control of the game and extended the lead. Mohammed al Anqoudi scored five consecutive points, pushing the margin to 22-15. Despite Ahli Sidab’s attempts to close the gap through Jilin Key and Adel al Battashi, Nizwa maintained their dominance thanks to three-pointers from Saif al Toubi and Agassi Tonion. The first half concluded with Nizwa comfortably ahead at 34-20.
Decisive Finish
Ahli Sidab entered the third quarter with renewed determination, scoring three points through Haitham Bani Araba and Jilin Key. However, Nizwa quickly responded with another three-pointer from Mohammed al Anqoudi. Adel al Battashi added two points with a successful shot under the basket, but despite their efforts, Ahli Sidab couldn't overturn Nizwa’s lead. The third quarter ended with Nizwa still in control, 48-38.
In the final quarter, both teams exchanged points, scoring 19 each. However, the lead Nizwa built in the earlier quarters secured their victory, as they closed out the game 67-57 to claim third place in the tournament.
The match was officiated by international referee Rashid al Mashifri as the first referee, assisted by Ahmed al Khasibi as the second referee and Ali al Salmani as the third referee. The table officials included Rayan al Dhabouni, Salem al Junaidi and Hafidh Awlad Ahmed.
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