ZOUK MIKAEL (Lebanon) - Amman United Club overcame a late-game rally by Al Difaa Al Jawi SC, 96-87, in the 2024/2025 FIBA WASL-West Asia League opener, Tuesday night at the Nouhad Nawfal Stadium.
Amin Abu Hawwas and Jonathan Arledge provided the much-needed stabilizing presence for the Jordanian side when their Iraqi counterparts got to within just three points during the closing seconds - that, after staring at an 86-74 deficit approaching the final four minutes of the match pitting two of the tilt's newcomers.
The win should serve as a solid buildup for their next game set Wednesday night, where they will be taking on the Sub-Zone League's reigning two-time titlists and defending WASL champions Al Riyadi.
Game heroes: Abu Hawwas top-scored for Amman United with a game-high 28 points on 56.7-percent shooting from the field, including a 4-of-7 clip from deep, on his way to earning Player of the Game honors.
Michael Frazier II provided 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists while Arledge finished with 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals. Freddy Ibrahim supplied 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists in 37 minutes of play.
Turning point: Amman United appeared to be on their way to an easy victory when they established a 53-33 lead entering the halftime intermission, only to get proven otherwise. Al Difaa Al Jawi roared back with a massive 35-point third-quarter barrage to chop the gap to just five points, 68-73, entering the deciding period.
But the wards of Coach Abdallah Abuqoura managed to keep their foes at bay, with Abu Hawwas and Ibrahim connecting on a triple each to kick-start an 11-2 run toward an 86-74 lead with 4:04 remaining.
Still, the opposition refused to throw in the towel, Behind Ihab Al-Zuhairi and Thulfiar Hammoodi, they managed to cut the deficit to only one possession, 87-90, with only 43.4 seconds on the clock.
Abu Hawwas, however, was there to respond quickly, banking it in off a drive to the hoop to widen the lead to five. Arledge then took it from there, first by perfecting his visit to the foul line before stealing the last inbound of Al Difaa Al Jawi for a breakaway dunk with 1.9 seconds left, thus settling the final count.
They said: "It's very important. This is momentum, right? We play tomorrow again. It's good to get the win, but we gotta just keep moving forward and hopefully, build on it. It's good for the club, Amman United, but it's also something we want to build on, and try to reach the Final 8." - Freddy Ibrahim, Amman United Club
"It was a tough game. We were down by 20 at halftime but we had the chance to fight back and possibly go up, but we fell short in the end. But I think we showed fight. I've only been with the team for a few days but the potential is there, and moving forward I think we'll be OK." - Jordan Hamilton, Al Difaa Al Jawi SC
FIBA