MUSCAT: Salalah Club imposed their rhythm from the opening moments and cruised to a dominant 87–10 victory over Saham Club in their preliminary-round clash of the 2025–2026 Youth Basketball League, held at the sub-hall of Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher on Saturday. With the win, Salalah moved to the top of the standings with seven points, while Saham remained on four points.
The contest was largely one-sided, as Salalah displayed clear tactical discipline, combining tight defensive pressure with effective floor coverage. The team quickly translated defence into offence through fast breaks, capitalising on steals and offensive rebounds to control all four quarters convincingly. Leading the scoring for Salalah were Mishal Kafkaf, Qaisar al Balushi, Hadzik Zifdan and Mohab al Balushi, while Abdulmuqtader al Balushi and Moataz al Sulaimi stood out for Saham.
Salalah started aggressively by pressing the ball handler and closing driving lanes, forcing Saham into rushed attempts. The team converted turnovers into quick fast-break points and benefited from second-chance opportunities through offensive rebounds, ending the first quarter ahead 19–4.
In the second quarter, Salalah maintained their superiority through better ball circulation and improved shot selection, relying heavily on drives to the basket and increasing its scoring efficiency. Meanwhile, their defence continued to limit Saham’s scoring opportunities. Saham struggled under pressure and managed only two points, while Salalah added 13 to head into half-time with a commanding 32–6 lead.
PRODUCTIVE QUARTER
The third quarter proved to be Salalah’s most productive offensively. The tempo increased noticeably, with consecutive scores coming from fast breaks and decisive assists that created easy looks near the rim. Dominance on the boards ensured longer possession time for Salalah. The team poured in 34 points compared to Saham’s four, extending the lead to 66–10 by the end of the third quarter.
Salalah continued their pressure until the final buzzer, maintaining defensive solidity and completely shutting down Saham’s scoring attempts in the fourth quarter. Every turnover was converted into a structured attack or another fast break. Salalah added 21 more points, while Saham were held scoreless in the final period, sealing the emphatic 87–10 result.
The match was officiated by Thabit al Hinai as first referee, Hussein al Awimri as second referee, and Ghalib al Hasani as third referee. The score table officials were Huda al Hinai, Aisha al Balushi, and Musa al Siyabi.
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