IN THE SAADLE!

SAAD Abdulrahman scored a match-high of 23 points as Al Gharafa thrashed Al Khor 106-47 in the Qatar Cup at the Al Rayyan Indoor Hall last week. 

Michael Taylor and Sammy Monroe netted 21 each in a relatively easy match as Kousay Hatem’s men prepared themselves to take on Jaish in the knockout competition.

“We didn’t want to take any match easy. Our players had a great game as we can’t afford to be casual,” Hatem told Doha Stadium Plus. 

Gharafa, who finished second in the league recently, raced to a 30-13 lead after the first quarter and never looked back. Gary Layton scored 21 for Khor, with no other player getting into double digits.

Holders Al Rayyan and newly-crowned league champions El Jaish have been given a bye. Last season’s runners-up Gharafa will meet Jaish on Wednesday in what promises to be a cracker of a match.

In another fixture, Al Wakrah beat Al Shamal 98-91. Thomas Blair top-scored for Wakrah with 37 points, 12 of which coming from three-pointers, while Ayeni Olatokunbo netted 32.

For Shamal, Mohamed Harat scored 36 while Saleh Ali and Nikola Vasojevic chipped in with 21 and 17 respectively.

Rayyan, who finished fourth in the league, will hope to do well against Wakrah. 

“They (Wakrah) are a fighting squad, but we’ll put up our best show,” said Rayyan coach Hassan Amin.

Rayyan were impressive last season when they won the league and Qatar Cup, but their performance nosedived this time after Greek coach Koufos Stergios and the club parted ways.

Amin is well aware of the challenge.

“We hope to live up to the expectations of our fans. Let’s hope for the best,” he added.