Bahrain, Qatar claim Day 2 triumphs in GCC Basketball Championship

SHARJAH (15^th GCC Basketball Championship) - Bahrain recorded their second straight victory, at the 15^th GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Basketball Championship, beating Saudi Arabia 68-64, while Qatar survived a late scare to beat hosts UAE on Monday.

Saudi Arabia led by a single point at half-time, but Bahrain outscored their neighbours 26-16 in the third quarter to record a 68-64 win.

Bahrain committed numerous individual errors in the first quarter to allow Saudi Arabia to take advantage and finish the 1^st quarter leading 17-9. The Bahrainis improved in the second-quarter and managed to cut the deficit to a single point at half-time.

Bahrain dominated the third-quarter to outscore their opponents 26-16 and even a later 4^th quarter rally by the "Green Falcons" wasn’t enough as Bahrain held for the win.

Following victories over Oman and KSA, Bahrain are two wins away from clinching the title but have to beat defending Champions Qatar in their next game on Wednesday to do so.

Qatar, who will travel to Iran immediately after the tournament to participate in the 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge, tipped-off their campaign with a hard-fought 70-67 win over hosts United Arab Emirates.

Al Annabi looked comfortable at the beginning and had an +8 point lead at half-time, but the hosts come back fighting after the restart to cut the deficit to just two points, but Qatar made the right plays down the stretch in the final quarter to hold on to the win.

The 15^th GCC Basketball Championship winner to earn an automatic qualification to next year’s FIBA Asia Cup, the new name of the continental FIBA Asia Championship.

FIBA