MUSCAT, JULY 13
The Oman U-16 national basketball team concluded its campaign in the Gulf regional qualifiers for the Asian Championship with a dramatic 65–69 loss to the UAE in their final match, held at the Bahrain Basketball Association Arena in Umm Al Hassam, Manama.
Oman approached the game with a defensive mindset, while the UAE team imposed their rhythm early on with fast breaks and inside scoring, ending the first quarter ahead 24–17.
In the second quarter, the UAE continued to dominate as Oman struggled with defensive coverage and transition play. The UAE extended their lead, winning the quarter 17–11 and closing the first half with a 41–28 advantage.
The third quarter saw a clear improvement in Oman’s performance. The team increased its offensive intensity, particularly through Adam al Hinai and Saif al Yahyaei, who helped narrow the gap with swift movement and accurate shooting. Oman won the third quarter 24–15.
The fourth quarter was evenly contested. Oman pushed hard to equalise and even led briefly, capitalising on the UAE's physical fatigue. Oman scored 11 points to the UAE’s 7, bringing the game to a 63–63 tie at the end of regulation and forcing overtime.
In the extra period, Oman rushed several plays, resulting in missed opportunities, while the UAE capitalised on their chances and scored 6 points to Oman’s 2, securing a hard-fought 69–65 victory.
For Oman, standout player Adam al Hinai scored 25 points, followed by Saif al Yahyaei with 12 points, Sami al Busaidy with 11, and Elias al Obaidani with 6. On the UAE side, Hussein Fadel led the scoring with 23 points, while Hamdan al Shaddadi contributed 11.
In the second match of the final day, Saudi Arabia defeated Kuwait 73–50, securing qualification alongside Bahrain.
With this result, Oman finished the qualifiers in fifth place. From the Gulf region, Bahrain qualified with a perfect record of 8 points from all wins, while Saudi Arabia came second with 7 points from three wins and one loss. Both teams have now secured their spots in the Asian U-16 Championship, which will take place in Mongolia this August.
Oman’s 12 player squad for the qualifiers included: Saddam al Shezawi, Khuzaymah al Shibli, Rashid al Isaei, Abdulrahim al Rushdi, Elias al Obaidani, Al Mulhim al Obaidani, Abdulsamad al Subhi, Muhannad al Batashi, Adam al Hinai, Jayyed al Kindi, Saif al Yahyaei, and Sami al Busaidy.
The official delegation also included: Abubakar al Jahwari, Vice-President of the Oman Basketball Association (OBA); Saeed al Habsi, Acting Secretary-General; head coach Zouhair al Ayashi; assistant coach Ali al Balushi; team manager Ghassan al Busaidy; and physiotherapist Amer al Zaidi
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