Oman U18 end Gulf campaign with Saudi defeat

MUSCAT: Oman’s under-18 national basketball team concluded their campaign in the Gulf qualifiers for the FIBA U18 Asia Cup with a 99-74 defeat to Saudi Arabia at Al Gharafa Sports Hall in Doha.

The result left Oman fourth in the final standings with five points from one victory and three defeats. Hosts Qatar were crowned champions after finishing with eight points, while Bahrain secured second place with seven. Saudi Arabia finished third in the tournament with six points, while Kuwait placed fifth with four.

Oman made a positive start to their final match and showed good intensity during the opening quarter, which they won 19-17.

Saudi Arabia responded strongly in the second period, however, and overturned the deficit to enter the half-time break with a 40-36 advantage.

The Saudi side took greater control after the interval, capitalising on their superiority in rebounding and transition play. They also punished Oman’s turnovers and converted several fast-break opportunities to gradually extend their lead.

An Oman player drives towards the basket under pressure from the Saudi defence.

Despite Oman’s attempts to remain competitive, Saudi Arabia maintained their offensive rhythm throughout the second half and eventually sealed victory by a 25-point margin.

Adam al Hinai was Oman’s leading scorer with 21 points. Muhab al Humaishi added 17 points, while Mishal Qafqaf contributed 13 and Mazin al Owaisi finished with 11.

Oman ended the competition with one victory, which came in a dramatic 62-59 win over Kuwait in their opening match. The young national side also produced competitive periods against Qatar and Saudi Arabia, gaining valuable exposure against some of the leading age-group teams in the Gulf.

Oman player Saif al Yahyai praised his team-mates' efforts throughout the tournament and said the squad had shown encouraging potential for the future.

“The players gave everything during this competition. With this group of players and the technical staff we have, the future of Omani basketball looks promising,” he said.

Azd al Bahlani said the team would seek to build on the experience gained in Doha and deliver stronger performances in future competitions.

“We will work to perform better and compete for higher positions in the coming tournaments,” he said.

“We managed to defeat Kuwait and played several strong matches in which we proved difficult opponents. Step by step, and with continued work, we believe we can achieve better results.”