FIBA/TNN
DOHA
Hosts Qatar punched their ticket for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers on an exciting day of action at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall on Tuesday night.
Qatar joined Iraq, and UAE in making the grade.
Qatar booked the ticket outlasting the erstwhile-unbeaten Palestinians 60-57 in Group E.
Qatar bounced back after being edged in the opening quarter to win the battle (Q1: 8-9; Q2: 17-15; Q3: 20-21; Q4: 15-12).
There were scenes of delight with the players and officials celebrating the home team’s victory. Qatar finished with 7 points having won three matches and losing only one.
Against Palestine, Mike Lewis powered the home team with 26 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter that saw him break the 56-all deadlock by calmly sinking both his charities with only 28 seconds left to play to give them the lead for good.
Abdulrahman Saad helped settle the final count with a split from the line and went on to finish with 11 points to support his backcourt partner.
Aside from hiking their record to 3-1, Qatar’s victory has also helped UAE (2-2) make their way into the Asia Cup Qualifiers, meaning that the four Group E squads have secured half of the available tickets to the next stage.
Iraq started by after beating UAE 82-74 on Tuesday.
Ihab Al Zuhairi and Demario Mayfield starred in the win again, joining hands in the endgame to steer their side past the hard-fighting opposition towards becoming the second team after Palestine to reach the ACQ later this year.
The 2.10 M (6’11) center finished with 20 points and 15 rebounds, while his senior came through with 19 points and 9 assists.
Iraq were only up by a solitary point early in the fourth quarter until the two sparked the telling 11-1 rally for a 77-66 lead with under three minutes left to play, and the game would never be in question from then on.
Ali Ismael had 12 points and 9 boards. Hassan Abdullah chipped in 11 as they helped out in closing the game that eventually hiked their card to 3-1.
Also triumphant in the penultimate gameday of Group E play were Kuwait, who vented their frustrations on Oman, 65-50, to finally break through.
Ali Alhadhoud and Abdulaziz Alhamidi had 17 and 12 points, respectively, as they delivered the team’s first win after three failed tries, none more painful than Monday’s loss to UAE that saw them blow a 14-point lead. But the wards of coach Salman Hasan showed that they’ve learned from it, taking full control of the match in the second.
Kuwait grew the lead to as big as 30 points, 63-33.
