Doha [Qatar], July 27: Qatar's U18 basketball team made a strong start in the Gulf Qualifiers for the FIBA U18 Asian Championship, defeating Saudi Arabia in their opening match of the tournament hosted in Doha from July 25-30. The competition features teams from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.
Qatar secured an 80-76 win in a thrilling contest at Al Gharafa Sports Hall. Both sides delivered closely matched performances, with Saudi Arabia starting strong before Qatar rallied to take control and claim their first two points in the qualifiers, boosting their chances of securing one of the two direct spots to the continental finals.
The game began cautiously, reflecting the importance of the opening round in the single-round league format, where each team plays only four matches. Saudi Arabia imposed rhythm early, ending the first quarter ahead 18-15. Qatar regrouped in the second quarter, improving both defense and offense to edge the period 15-11, leveling the contest. The hosts continued their momentum in the third quarter, winning 21-17, while Saudi Arabia narrowly took the fourth 30-29.
Qatar's Abdullah Yassin was the game's top scorer with 24 points, while Ali Al Somal led Saudi Arabia with 21 points. The victory carried significant morale value for Qatar, giving the players confidence ahead of upcoming clashes with other Gulf rivals.
In another match, Bahrain confirmed their strength with a dominant 106-51 win over Kuwait, marking its second consecutive victory after beating Saudi Arabia 62-54 in the opener. Bahrain controlled all four quarters decisively, underscoring its readiness to contend for the top spot. Meanwhile, Oman edged Kuwait 62-59 in the tournament's opening game, in a contest marked by fluctuating momentum and scorelines.
The standings currently place Bahrain at the top with 4 points from two wins, followed by Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, each with 2 points.
The qualifiers continue on Monday with Oman facing Bahrain at 5pm, followed by Qatar against Kuwait at 7pm, both at Al Gharafa Sports Hall.
After a rest day, play resumes Wednesday, July 29, with Saudi Arabia meeting Kuwait at 5pm and Qatar facing Oman at 7pm. The tournament concludes Thursday, July 30, with Oman vs Saudi Arabia clash at 5pm and Qatar vs Bahrain match at 7pm - a match likely decisive in determining the qualifiers.
The Gulf Qualifiers follow a single-round league format, awarding two points for a win and one point for a loss. Top two teams advance to the FIBA U18 Asian Championship in Ahmedabad, India, this August. The Asian Championship will in turn qualify four teams to the FIBA U19 World Cup 2027 in Czech Republic.
Source: Qatar Tribune