Muscat, Dec 4
Al Bashayer, representing Oman, suffered a heavy defeat against Bahrain's Al Ahli, losing 90-52 in the West Asia Super League (WASL) match at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher on Tuesday night.
The match began with a relatively balanced first quarter, but the tide soon turned in favour of the visiting Al Ahli team. The Bahraini side shone with its professional players leading the scoring effort, including Thomas Richard, Jackson Dawney and Jordan Stephens. For Al Bashayer, Bassam al Busaidi, Slavik Kobekov and Shaker Smith spearheaded the scoring attempts.
The opening quarter was relatively even, with Al Ahli drawing first blood through a successful shot by Haitham Issa. Al Bashayer quickly equalised through Bassam al Busaidi, setting the stage for an intense back and forth as both teams traded points. Al Ahli’s professionals, led by Thomas Richard and Jackson Dawney, displayed exceptional skill in executing organised attacks. Despite Al Ahli’s slight edge, Al Bashayer managed to stay within reach, ending the quarter trailing by just three points, 16-13.
The game shifted dramatically in the second quarter as Al Ahli asserted control. Al Bashayer struggled with accuracy, missing several easy opportunities under the basket. Capitalising on these errors, Al Ahli’s Jordan Stephens scored four consecutive points, gradually widening the gap. Although Al Bashayer fought back with efforts from Slavik Kobekov and Bassam al Busaidi, Al Ahli’s professionals shone in executing free throws and three pointers. By half-time, Al Ahli led comfortably, 44-30.
Al Bashayer opened the third quarter with a basket from Bassam al Busaidi, followed by a response from Jordan Stephens of Al Ahli. Shaker Smith added two points for Al Bashayer, keeping the deficit at 12 points. Both teams exchanged baskets in a series of offensive plays, but Al Ahli maintained their dominance, finishing the quarter ahead 65-44.
The final quarter followed a similar pattern, with Al Bashayer missing several scoring opportunities while Al Ahli continued to capitalise on their chances. Early in the quarter, Al Ahli extended their lead through a free throw by Thomas, while Slavik Kobekov responded with a three-pointer for Al Bashayer to narrow the gap to 77-49. However, Al Bashayer’s inability to convert opportunities allowed Al Ahli to further extend their lead, sealing the game with a decisive 90-52 victory.
The game was officiated by international referees Ahmed Shwaili from Iraq (head referee), Hamad Fawzi from Jordan (second referee), and Taha al Hashadi from Yemen (third referee). The scoring table duties were managed by Hafidh Awlad Ahmed, Wafa al Samri, Majid al Akhzami and Fatima al Harthy.
This result highlights the need for Al Bashayer to address their shortcomings and learn from this experience as they prepare for the upcoming matches in the tournament.
Pics by Amir Al Hamhamy
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
