MUSCAT: Nizwa Club claimed a valuable 76–52 victory over Salalah Club in the 2026 Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth Basketball Shield, in a match held at the secondary hall of the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher. With the win, Nizwa raised their tally to three points, while Salalah remained on one point.
The contest began on an even note, with both sides exchanging quick attacks and showing strong defensive focus, making the first quarter highly competitive. Salalah edged ahead late in the period to take a narrow 11–10 lead.
The momentum shifted in the second quarter as Nizwa imposed its rhythm at both ends of the court. Their players successfully limited Salalah’s threat in the paint while executing organised offensive plays and fast breaks. Nizwa overturned the deficit and widened the gap by scoring 23 points to Salalah’s 11, closing the first half in front, 33–22.
Nizwa’s dominance became more evident in the third quarter, which proved to be the turning point of the match. Tight defence, quick transitions and varied scoring options allowed them to significantly extend their advantage. They added 29 points while restricting Salalah to just eight, stretching the score to a comfortable 62–30.
Salalah attempted a comeback in the fourth quarter and showed better attacking efficiency, scoring 22 points. However, Nizwa managed the clock well and responded with 14 points of their own to maintain control and seal the game with a 76–52 victory.
Individually, Mohammed al Anqoudi led Nizwa’s scoring with 17 points, followed by professional player Agassi Tonyan with 14. Jenkinsley and Said Ghassan each contributed 10 points. For Salalah, Majid al Balushi and Qaisar al Balushi scored 12 points apiece, while professional player Masoud al Hashmi added 10.
International referee Rashid al Mushaifri officiated the match as first referee, Mazin al Hilali as second referee, and Al Mahdi al Amri as third referee. The scorer’s table included Ghalib al Hasani, Salim al Ghailani and Moosa al Siyabi.
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