MUSCAT, FEB 28
Nizwa Club claimed a hard-fought 70–68 victory over Salalah Club in the preliminary round of the 2025–2026 Youth Basketball League, in a contest that remained wide open until the final moments. With this win, Nizwa moved to the top of the standings with six points, while Salalah continued in second place with 5 points.
The game was competitive from the outset, as Nizwa imposed early dominance and took the lead. Despite Salalah’s repeated attempts to stage a comeback, particularly in the fourth quarter, Nizwa maintained their composure in the decisive moments and managed the closing minutes with focus to secure a valuable win.
In terms of scoring, Adam al Hinai led Nizwa with 14 points, followed by Nasser Ambusaidi with 12 points and Muath Ambusaidi with 11 points, while Al Mulhim al Obaidani added six points. For Salalah, Mishal Kafkaf stood out with 22 points, Qaisar al Balushi contributed 16 points, and Hazdrek Zefidan added 6 points.
Nizwa entered the match with high concentration, relying on defensive pressure and quick transitions to create a clear offensive advantage in the first quarter, which they ended ahead 26–11. In the second quarter, Salalah improved significantly, activating their offence and narrowing the gap by scoring 20 points compared to Nizwa’s 13, ending the first half with Nizwa leading 42–31.
The third quarter remained intense, with both ends of the court balanced, as the minutes saw back-and-forth scoring alongside strong defensive displays from both sides and clear efforts to contain the key players. Despite Salalah’s repeated attempts to cut the deficit, Nizwa maintained the lead through disciplined defence and a controlled tempo. Each team scored 19 points in the quarter, which ended with Nizwa still ahead of Salalah, 61–50.
The fourth quarter saw heightened drama as Salalah intensified pressure and scored 18 points, cutting the deficit to just two points. However, Nizwa responded at the crucial moments with nine decisive points to preserve their lead until the final buzzer, sealing the 70–68 victory.
The match was officiated by international referee Rashid al Mushaifri as first referee, Ali al Sulaimani as second referee and Al Mahdi al Amri as third referee. The scorer’s table included Maryam al Zadjali, Yaqoub al Nadabi and Fatma al Harthy.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
