Dubai: Jordan and hosts Al Shabab helped themselves to wins on the opening day of the International Basketball Tournament that got under way at the Al Shabab Club on Thursday.

Jordan toiled for a hard-fought 77-74 win against Sharjah Club, while Al Shabab – led by top-scorer Vincent Jones’s 31 points - secured a thumping 106-84 victory against Team Philippines made up of UAE-based players.

The tournament, meant to be an annual affair to mark the UAE National Day, is being held under the patronage of Shaikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

In the late match, hosts Al Shabab and Team Philippines were tied 18-18 towards the end of the opening quarter, but a shot from under the basket followed by a charity conversion helped Ahmad Omar’s lads to a 21-18 lead.

Vincent Jones

At half-time Al Shabab went clear by six points at 45-39 with Vincent Jones top-scoring with 13 points to his name. And with 7.25 minutes remaining on the clock, Al Shabab had swelled their lead to 10 points with Jones and Senegalese Mohammadu Moustafa using their height well to take the score to 57-47.

The hosts then went on a riot to double the lead at 74-54 with Jones slam dunking a pass from Ahmad Mousa with 2.57 left for the end of the third quarter. By the end of the quarter, it was 82-60 in favour of the hosts and Team Philippines looked like losing their focus, scoring touch and steam all at the same time as the home boys outscored them 37-19.

Final quarter a formality

The final quarter was more of a formality with Al Shabab coach giving his stand-bys a chance for match play. That only helped the home team cut down on the lead, but not for long as Jones pushed up his scoring to eventually land up with the best player award.

Earlier in the opener, Rasheem Wright proved to be the narrow difference between Jordan and Sharjah Club as he scored at a crucial time to rob the local side of a likely win. Wright’s four points along with two charities made a load of difference as the two teams headed into the final quarter tied 58-58.

The tournament is sponsored by Sadaf Group of Companies, Al Naboodah, RTA, DEWA, Government of Dubai’s Department of Economic Development and Dubai Police.

Friday’s Matches: (5 pm) Jordan vs Champville; (7 pm) Team Philippines vs Al Riyadhi, Lebanon.