Bahrain Outclasses Kuwait
Bahrain's U16 squad continues its impressive GBA Qualifiers run with another big win
After opening the 2025 GBA U16 Basketball Qualifiers with a 96–45 rout of Oman, Bahrain followed it up with another brilliant performance against Kuwait last night, winning 93–52 at Umm Alhassam Sports Hall.
Kuwait looked set to close the first quarter with a narrow lead before Bahrain executed a swift 8–0 run to take a 25–22 edge by the buzzer. From there, it was Bahrain's tempo and composure that controlled the rest of the contest.
By halftime, the game had cracked open: Bahrain surged ahead 58–31, with defensive rebounding and three-point precision suffocating Kuwait's rhythm. The third quarter continued in dominant fashion, with Bahrain stretching the score to 80–43 before easing into a controlled finish.
Key Contributors
Manama Club's Mohammed Adel Abdulla poured in 20 points, including four three-pointers, once again leading Bahrain's scoring and orchestrating the offense with ease. His shot selection and court awareness turned several broken possessions into momentum-swinging moments.
Somto Patrick Onoduenyi added 14 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 assists, dominating both ends of the court and throwing down several highlight-reel dunks that deflated Kuwait's defensive morale. His transition leadership was vital in Bahrain's fast-break success.
Hassan Oshobuge Abdulkadir was immense on the glass with 17 rebounds and 16 points, creating second-chance opportunities and setting the tone in the paint.
Ali Khalil Habib grabbed 8 rebounds and dished 3 assists, while Mohamed Mahmood Farhan contributed 5 boards and 3 assists off the bench.
Kuwait's AbdulAziz AlMutawa was again their top scorer with 13 points, but was held in check through physical defense and tight switching.
Depth Tells the Story
Bahrain's bench once again delivered. Yousif Ali Alsamaheeji brought calm and experience from his time with Al Ahli's Premier League title run, while Ali Alhaddad, Hussain Fuad Ghuloom, and Hasan Ruyan (12 points) all played important minutes.
Captain Ali Husain Mohamed kept the team focused and vocal from the sideline, providing leadership throughout.
Altogether, Bahrain's depth translated into 21 assists, 63 rebounds, and 21 steals, while forcing 30 turnovers from Kuwait. It was a statistical and stylistic show of effort and discipline.
Strong Foundation From Coaching Staff
Head Coach Rassem AlMarzooqi and Assistant Hani Alam have implemented a system rooted in team discipline, switching defense, and fast-paced transition play. Their influence was evident in Bahrain's ability to respond to Kuwait's early challenge and in their clinical dismantling of Oman just a day earlier.
'I'm proud of the boys,' said AlMarzooqi after the win. 'To come out with this kind of performance less than 24 hours after our last game shows real focus and maturity. But we know tomorrow will be another tough test—Saudi looked very strong today.'
The team is clearly targeting improvement from its third-place finish in the 2023 edition, and so far, the signs point upward.
Next Up: Saudi Arabia
Bahrain will face a tougher test tonight at 7:30 PM, when they meet Saudi Arabia, who are coming off a 73–30 demolition of the UAE.
The qualifiers are being played in league format, with five of the six GCC countries participating in this year's Gulf Basketball Association (GBA) event. The tournament serves as a qualifier for the FIBA U16 Asia Championship, to be held this September in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
All fans are welcome to attend Umm Alhassam Sports Hall, and entrance throughout the championship is free.
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