MANAMA (Bahrain) - Bahrain found an unlikely hero to avert an endgame disaster against Syria and come away with the narrow 76-71 victory to chalk up their second win in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers on Friday night at the Khalifa Sport City.
Maitham Isa found Subah Azzam open from the right baseline for the all-important mid-range jumper with 18.5 seconds left to play, which proved enough to save themselves after almost squandering what was once a 24-point lead.
"We did some mistakes and they got some momentum in the last quarter. But the most important thing in the Group Stage is to get wins and go closer to qualifying," said head coach Jad El Hajj as his side climbed to no. 2 in Group F with a 2-1 card.
The crew did lead by as much during the third quarter that the home fans were already in a celebratory mood, but their supposed anticipation of the easy cruise to the victory turned into anxiety when the visiting side fought back hard.
The Eagles knocked to within just three, 74-71, heading into the last two minutes behind the efforts of Nadim Issa, Christian Maran, and Omar Idelbi.
However, they couldn't find the extra gear to get closer, with Idelbi missing a layup with 1:33 to go which Wayne Chism managed to haul down.
Chism would collect another key board and shortly after, Azzam came through with the dagger to make sure that they'd leave with the hard-fought W on lock - and close in on group leaders Lebanon, who improved to 3-0 after beating UAE earlier.
Their endgame composure also preserved the record night of guard Ahmed Haji, who nailed a Continental Cup Qualifiers record of 11 triples for 35 points.
His offensive masterpiece couldn't have come at a better time for Bahrain on a night that Mosti Rashed, one of the Asia Cup Qualifiers' top scorers after the first window back in February with a 23.0-point average, was held to only 3 points on 6 shots.
It also marked the second gameday in a row that a player waxed hot from deep. Chris Goulding nailed 9 treys in their 101-48 mauling of Thailand in Bangkok, which at the time was the most by a player in a single Continental Cup Qualifiers game.
"I think in the first half, we executed the game plan pretty well. That's what pushed us even though they had the momentum at the end. I think that's what kept us in the game," said Haji, who already had 23 on a 7-of-7 clip from deep in the first half.
Chism finished with a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds as the veteran big man served as a stabilizing presence down the stretch with his effort on the glass.
Put to naught by the loss, on the other hand, was the performance of Jeremiah Hardy, who led Syria with 21 points in the comeback that fell just short.
Ditto with Issa, who went 4-for-5 from three for 14 points as they absorbed their second loss in third outings abridging the two qualifying windows.
"We had a plan. We studied all the players, their superstars. But we were surprised by the guy No. 3. I think he finished with 11 three-pointers," said Issa, referring to Haji.
FIBA