Muscat: Al Nasr defeated Al Suwaiq 82-12, while Ahli Sidab edged Nizwa 61-56 in the Oman Basketball League for the 2024-2025 season. The matches were held at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher on Tuesday.
In the first game, Al Nasr encountered little resistance from Al Suwaiq, with their players shining through experience and focus. They started the first quarter with a strong offensive push, scoring 20 points through Masoud Hashemi, Mohammed al Amri, Bassam al Musallami, Abdulaziz al Balushi and Zain Ayman, while Al Suwaiq managed only 4 points from Mohammed al Maamari and Hamad al Mashrefi.
Al Nasr maintained their dominance in the second quarter, ending the first half with a 36-8 lead as Al Suwaiq continued to miss scoring opportunities. In the third quarter, Al Nasr extended their lead, finishing it at 56-10, and capped off the game with a final quarter adding 26 more points to Al Suwaiq’s 2 points, ending the match at 82-12.
The game was officiated by an experienced team, with international referee Rashid al Mushaifri as the first referee, Mazen al Athali as the second, and Al Mahdi al Amri as the third. On the scoring table were Munira al Omani, Mahmoud al Ajmi and Huda al Hinai.
CLOSE CONTEST
The second game witnessed fierce competition between Ahli Sidab and Nizwa, with Ahli Sidab clinching a close victory at 61-56. The match was filled with excitement and intensity, with both teams alternating control over different periods. Scoring leaders for Ahli Sidab included Jaylin Kay, Ahmed al Hassani and Hamir al Hassani, while for Nizwa the key scorers were Agasel Tonian, Saif al Toobi and Qasim al Qasimi.
Ahli Sidab began the first quarter strongly, opening with a quick three-pointer from Abdulaziz al Balushi, followed by additional points from Hamir al Hassani, establishing an early rhythm and capitalising on opportunities, ending the quarter at 15-10. Nizwa, however, tried to recover in the final moments.
In the second quarter, competition intensified as Nizwa narrowed the gap with a successful three-pointer by Agasel Tonian and additional points from Mohammed al Wahaibi, raising the game’s energy. Despite Nizwa’s efforts, Ahli Sidab maintained their lead, ending the first half ahead 30-28.
The third quarter continued the intense rivalry, with Ahli Sidab advancing through Adil al Battashi’s moves, while Nizwa countered with strong scoring by Saif al Toobi, keeping the scores close. The quarter saw several ties, including at 34-34 and 43-43, adding to the match's suspense and excitement for the crowd.
In the fourth quarter, the game reached its peak, with both teams exchanging attacks and displaying a strong determination to win. Despite Nizwa’s efforts to come back, Ahli Sidab held their lead and managed the final minutes expertly, winning the match 61-56 after a thrilling performance.
The match was officiated by international referees Ahmed al Balushi as the first referee, Issam al Siyabi as the second and Thani al Khalasi as the third, with Miad al Hamdani, Moosa al Siyabi and Majid al Akthami handling the scoring table.
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