Al Arabi defeat Al Ahli to emerge Qatar Basketball Cup Champion
Doha: Al Arabi has secured the championship title of the 12th edition of the Qatar Basketball Cup for Men for the 2024-2025 sports season, triumphing over Al Ahli with a score of 74-57 in the final game held at the Indoor Hall of Al Gharafa Club yesterday. This victory marks Al Arabi’s fourth title in the tournament’s history, following their previous wins in 2019, 2022, and 2023.
Meanwhile, Al Ahli continues to pursue its inaugural title in this competition. The game periods concluded with scores of 13-18, 16-11, 22-19, and 21-9, all favoring Al Arabi.
Victor Dewayne Rod, representing Al Arabi, emerged as the top scorer of the match, contributing 25 points, while Omar Rushdi led Al Ahli with 15 points.
Post-match, the Al Arabi team was awarded the championship cup, gold medals, and a cash prize of QR200,000 Mr. Mohammed bin Saad Al Mughaiseeb, President of the Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF), His Excellency Sheikh Tamim bin Fahad Al Thani, President of Al Arabi Sports Club, Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari, Secretary General of the Federation, and Nasser Ajlan Al Kaabi, QBF Assistant Secretary-General. Al Ahli received the silver medal along with a prize of QR75,000.
This edition of the tournament employed a knockout format, with Al Ahli advancing to the final after narrowly defeating Al Khor 68-66 in the preliminary round, followed by a victory over Al Shamal 93-70 in the first round, and finally overcoming Al Gharafa 87-86 in the semi-final.
In contrast, Al Arabi demonstrated their prowess by defeating Al Rayyan with a score of 84-65 in the initial round, followed by a victory over Al Sadd, concluding the semi-final at 81-70, thereby securing their place in the final match.
QBF President Mohammed bin Saad Al Mughaiseeb expressed his satisfaction with the successful execution of the 12th edition of the Qatar Basketball Cup, extending his congratulations to the Al Arabi team for their well-earned championship. He noted that the tournament showcased a high level of competition, indicative of the progress in Qatari basketball, which inspires continued support for clubs and players in the pursuit of excellence in the sport.
He said that the Federation aims to foster an environment conducive to nurturing local talent and promoting professionalism. He highlighted the beneficial influence of professional players on the tournament’s overall quality. Furthermore, he stated that the Federation will persist in enhancing its strategies to support clubs at all levels, including the allowance for clubs to register a fourth Lebanese professional player, following the impressive performance of Wael Arakji with Al-Arabi during the Qatar Cup. The Federation believes that attracting exceptional international players will elevate the league’s standard and facilitate the exchange of expertise with Qatari players, ultimately benefiting Qatari basketball and improving the performance of all teams involved.
QBF Secretary-General Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari remarked on the event’s organization, stating that it was exemplary and the competitions remained thrilling until the very end. He extended his congratulations to the Al-Arabi team for their well-deserved victory and praised the efforts of all participating teams, which demonstrated a remarkable level of competition. The Federation is committed to enhancing such tournaments to elevate the sport and broaden participation, as the intense rivalry among clubs contributes significantly to the advancement of Qatari basketball. He further noted that the caliber of play observed during the tournament will benefit the Qatari national team as it prepares for the 2025 Asian Cup qualifiers. He expressed confidence that these local experiences will equip players with the necessary skills and readiness for international competitions, and emphasized the Federation’s ongoing support for local clubs and the national team in pursuit of their future objectives in the development of Qatari basketball.
