MUSCAT, DEC 18
Al Bashayer Club suffered a heavy defeat against UAE’s Shabab Al Ahli Club with a score of 56-96 in a West Asia Super League (WASL) match held at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher.
Despite Al Bashayer’s attempts to narrow the gap, their lack of focus and rushed offensive plays caused them to miss several easy-scoring opportunities, allowing the Emirati team to dominate the game.
Al Bashayer’s standout performers included Slaven Kapkovic, Osama al Riyami, and Hadeed Bait Bakhit, while Shabab Al Ahli’s key players were Omar al Amri, Dominique Pinzer, and Dushinder Wushinjohn.
The game began with Al Bashayer launching an attack, earning a free throw that Slaven Kapkovic converted for one point.
Shabab Al Ahli responded with two points by Qais al Shaibi, followed by another basket from Dominique. Al Bashayer answered with two points from Saeed al Saadi, bringing the score to 3-4. However, Shabab Al Ahli began to pull away, extending the lead to 5-10. With missed opportunities from Al Bashayer, Shabab al Ahli capitalised, with Asan Buya adding another two points to make it 12-5. The first quarter ended with Al Bashayer trailing 10-29.
In the second quarter, Shabab Al Ahli continued to widen the gap, starting with a three pointer by Qais al Amri. Al Bashayer replied with a three pointer by Slaven Kapkovic, but the Emirati team scored another three pointer through Qais al Amri. Al Bashayer managed to reduce the deficit to 17-35, thanks to four points by Slaven Kapkovic. However, the visitors extended their lead further, ending the first half with a 28-53 advantage.
Al Bashayer attempted to improve their performance at the start of the third quarter, with Mahmoud al Souli managing to score two points. However, Shabab Al Ahli maintained their offensive dominance through quick attacks, with Saeed al Amri and Asan Bouya adding more points to widen the gap to 58-32. It was evident that haste in finishing attacks cost Al Bashayer the chance to make a comeback, as the players missed several clear scoring opportunities. Shabab Al Ahli continued to capitalise on misplaced passes and fast breaks to score consecutive points, ending the third quarter with a comfortable lead of 71-39 for the Emirati team.
In the fourth quarter, Al Bashayer scored four points through Osama Al Riyami and Slaven Kapkovic. However, Shabab Al Ahli’s Ahmed al Buraiki responded with two points. Al Bashayer’s Ahmed al Halhali reduced the deficit by scoring two points, bringing the score to 45 75. Despite both teams exchanging attacks, Al Bashayer continued to waste opportunities, leading to a final score of 56-96, with Shabab Al Ahli emerging victorious.
Photos by Amir Al Humhami
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