Dubai: UAE topped the standings in the 11th GCC youth basketball tournament after upsetting defending champions Bahrain 59-54 at Sharjah indoor sports hall on Tuesday night.
The UAE youth are on top with four points from two wins, but will have to win the remaining two matches against Kuwait today and Saudi Arabia on Friday if they are to clinch the title.
The defeat threw defending champions out of the title hunt after they conceded their second defeat. They now have four points from three matches.
In an early match, Kuwait revived hopes to compete for the title by defeating Qatar 94-50. The Qataris, as they did in previous matches, showed a good form in the first quarter in which they led 20-19.
However, the Kuwaitis recovered quickly in the second quarter to make it 41-31. The Qataris couldn't could not keep up the tempo and 69-37 in the third quarter. The match became a one-sided contest thereafter and the Kuwaitis won 94-50.
Despite Bahrain leading the first quarter 8-0, the UAE displayed strong form in the last five minutes of the first quarter. Rashid Naser was the UAE hero, his swift moves and quick breakthroughs helping the hosts to clinch the full points.
Rashid's fine effort resulted in reducing the deficit to one point, with Bahrain finished the first quarter 14-13.
Saleh Zuwayed then put UAE in the lead (17-16) for the first time. Mohammad Abdul Majied of Bahrain levelled at 19-19 with a three-pointer.
UAE took control of the match with a tough defence, led by Jasim Mohammad Zuwayed, while Rashid Naser and Khamis Ali excelled in the attack to gave UAE a seven point difference at 26-19.
Al Thaqafi and Hasan Nairouz fought hard, but they couldn't prevent the UAE from winning the second quarter 28-26.
Rashid returned in the thick of action in the third quarter after the coach took him out for committing his third personal foul. The scores were levelled many times with the third quarter ending at 45-45.
The fourth quarter saw some hard battle with Rashid, Salah Khalifa snatching the lead for the UAE. Nairouz, Al Thaqafi and Abdu Majied brought Bahrain back in the match in many occasions. With two minutes and 18 seconds left, UAE advanced to 53-52 and never look back again. Bahrain tried in the last seconds to level the scores and take the UAE into extra time. The UAE defence, however, held out till the end.
Today's matches:
5 pm: UAE v Kuwait.
7:30 pm Qatar v Saudi Arabia.
