No slowing down for Iraq, UAE as Kuwait end Group E play on a high

DOHA (Qatar) - The job was already finished but Iraq and UAE didn't use it as an excuse not to wrap up Group E play of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Pre-Qualifiers Second Round on a high, Wednesday night at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall.

Along with Palestine and Qatar, the two are bound for the Asia Cup Qualifiers later this year, yet still made it a point to finish their respective campaigns with a W.

Iraq opened the day with a dominant 82-65 conquest of the luckless Oman to end up as the no. 1 team of the group with a 4-1 record.

Demario Mayfield led the way with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists, doing much of the damage in the second half as he helped sustain the efforts of Karrar Hamzah in putting the team ahead in the first 20 minutes.

Hamzah scored 11 in the first half to lead his side to a 36-28 lead at the break and went on to finish with 18 points, 2 boards, 3 dimes, and 3 steals.

UAE, on the other hand, finished as the 2-seed after dealing Palestine a 74-51 beatdown in easily their best win of the Pre-Qualifiers.

Omar Alshabebi top-billed once again with 18 points, including 8 in the fourth quarter alone where he matched their foes' total output while his side scored 22 en route to the 23-point win. He also had 9 rebounds.

Hamid Albreiki and Omer Khalid Alameri contributed 12 markers apiece as all but three players scored at least 3 points in the victory.

Kuwait, ultimately, concluded Group E action with a 76-57 blowout of the home team to at least end their trip to Doha with a win.

Mohamad Hasan finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds, brother Hamad Hasan supplied 20, while Ali Alhadhoud added 10 markers in the wire-to-wire victory as they still poured it out despite falling short of reaching the ACQ.

FIBA