MUSCAT: Oman’s national basketball team concluded their Fiba Asia Cup 2029 Pre-Qualifiers first round campaign on a positive note after defeating Nepal 76-62 at the Shabab Al Ahli venue in Dubai.
The victory brought an end to Oman’s three-match losing run in Group A, although it was not enough to secure qualification to the next stage. Bahrain, UAE and Kuwait claimed the three qualifying places, while Oman finished fourth with five points, one ahead of Nepal.
Oman entered their final fixture determined to produce a stronger performance after defeats against Kuwait, Bahrain and UAE, and made an impressive start by taking control of the contest from the opening minutes.
Effective ball movement and improved attacking execution helped the national team establish an early advantage, with Oman scoring 29 points in the opening quarter while restricting Nepal to 15 to take a 14-point lead.
Nepal responded in the second quarter as Oman’s offensive rhythm dropped. The national team managed only eight points during the period, while Nepal scored 16 to reduce the deficit. Oman nevertheless maintained a 37-31 advantage at half-time.
The national side regained their rhythm after the break and produced a more composed third quarter. Oman improved their offensive organisation and widened the gap once again, taking a 55-46 lead into the final period.
With Nepal attempting to mount a late comeback, Oman managed the closing stages effectively and maintained control of the contest. The national team added 21 points in the fourth quarter while limiting Nepal to 16, sealing a deserved 76-62 victory.
The win provided Oman with a positive conclusion to a challenging qualifying campaign that began with an 88-63 defeat to Kuwait. The team then lost 106-62 to Bahrain before showing improvement in a 115-89 defeat against hosts UAE.
FIVE POINTS
Oman finished the first round with one victory from four matches and five points.
Bahrain topped Group A with eight points after completing their campaign with a perfect record, while UAE finished second with seven points. Kuwait secured the third qualifying position with six points, followed by Oman on five and Nepal on four.
Although Oman missed out on progression, the final victory offered the squad an encouraging end to their Dubai campaign and an opportunity to build on the experience gained against different levels of opposition during the four-match qualifying programme.
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