MUSCAT: Seeb Club has been officially crowned the champion of the 2024–2025 Junior Basketball League, despite losing their final-round match to Nizwa 73-64. Seeb had already secured the title before the last match by leading the standings in the double round-robin final stage. Al Amerat finished in second place, while Nizwa claimed third.
The final match and the award ceremony were held under the auspices of Captain Said bin Salim al Busaidy, Chairman of Muscat Sports Board, and attended by Abubakar al Jahwari, Vice-President of the Oman Basketball Federation, Said al Habsi, Head of the Competitions Committee and Acting Secretary-General, along with representatives of the winning clubs. The event took place at the secondary hall of Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher.
The league’s final match saw a competitive encounter between Seeb and Nizwa, with Nizwa managing to come from behind to claim a morale-boosting 73-64 victory, despite Seeb having already sealed the title.
Seeb dominated the opening stages, with Saif al Hinai hitting a three-pointer to open the scoring, followed by points from teammates Azzan al Ajmi and Azd al Bahlani, giving Seeb a 29-14 lead by the end of the first quarter. Both teams maintained high energy in the second quarter, but Nizwa managed to narrow the gap, ending the half with Seeb leading 41-33.
In the third quarter, Nizwa, led by Adam al Hinai and Abdulsamad al Subhi, turned the game around, taking a narrow 54-53 lead as Seeb’s performance declined. Nizwa continued their momentum in the final quarter, extending their lead while Seeb missed several scoring opportunities, eventually sealing the match 73-64 to end their campaign on a positive note despite finishing third.
Following the match, Captain Said al Busaidy presented the individual awards to the standout performers of the season. Mazen al Owaisi from Al Amerat was honoured as the Top Three-Point Shooter, while Mishal Kafkaf from Salalah received the League Top Scorer award. The Best Playmaker title went to Azd al Bahlani of Seeb, and Adam bin Suleiman al Hinai from Nizwa was recognised as the Best Young Player. Seeb then received the championship trophy and gold medals, while Al Amerat claimed silver medals for finishing second, and Nizwa received bronze for securing third place.
PRAISES FOR THE COMPETITION and Calls for Increased Support
Captain Said al Busaidy praised the high technical level displayed in the final match, describing it as intense and exciting, showcasing promising talents on both sides in terms of technical and physical abilities. He stressed the need for continuous support from clubs and the federation to nurture these talents, which could form the foundation of future national teams capable of competing at the Gulf and Arab levels. He highlighted Nizwa's comeback as a testament to the players' high potential and skills.
Said al Habsi also congratulated Seeb on securing the title early, noting that their dominance throughout the league was well-deserved. He commended the overall performance of the four finalist teams, particularly the thrilling final match between Seeb and Nizwa. He also praised Al Amerat for their remarkable progress in only their second season in the Junior League.
Al Habsi concluded by stating that the Junior League’s conclusion marks the end of the federation’s 2024–2025 sports calendar. He emphasised the competitions committee's efforts to elevate the level of competition by introducing a multi-stage format. He closed with a call to the private sector to support basketball tournaments, clubs, and players, contributing to the sport’s development and raising its standards both locally and internationally.
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