UAE cagers just fail to overcome Kuwait

The UAE basketball team narrowly failed to beat Kuwait in the match to decide places 9 to 12. Kuwait won the exciting game 77-74 despite the UAE players putting up a good performance.

The UAE team looked like they would score their first win in the Busan Games had not the referees (Chinese and Korean) denied them a deserved win with their unfair decisions. The UAE players were furious after the final whistle and came close to venting their fury on the referees, but the team manager and coach restored order and calm.

Kuwait led in the first quarter 23-21 after the UAE took the lead through Hamdan Saeed and Ayoub Abbas 21-20.

In the second quarter, Kuwait ended up leading 42-35 after they widened the gap to 14 points thanks to Abdullah Al Sarraf and Sulaiman Al Tabakh.

The UAE did well in the third quarter which they won 19-11 through the efforts of Hamdan Saeed and Abdullattif Abdul Elah to finish leaders for the first time 54-53.

The UAE's star player Ibrahim Khalfan was injured by a Kuwaiti player who crashed into him r while Ibrahim was attempting to score. The UAE player was taken to the hospital by an ambulance, however medical tests proved that his injury was not serious.

Abdullah Al Sarraf of Kuwait stormed powerfuly in the fourth quarter to lead his country for a win with his three pointers and swift moves. Al Sarraf scored 12 of his team's 24 points in the final quarter.

Majed Al Hassawi, the UAE team manager, said that the two referees decisions were unfair and it affected the UAE, costing them the match which they deserved to win.

UAE will meet Mongolia next Monday to decide places from 10 to 12.