Bahrain chase sweep in GBA Qualifiers; UAE last stop
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Bahrain's U16 basketball team returns to the floor tonight at Umm Alhassam Sports Hall, already qualified for the FIBA U16 Asia Championship this September, but still chasing something more: a perfect record in the GBA Qualifiers.
Their next test is the United Arab Emirates, a team that's yet to win a game this week. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. Entry is free.
Grit Over
Glamour Bahrain have swept their first three games. It started with a statement win — 96–44 over Oman — followed by a dominant 93–52 showing against Kuwait. Then came Wednesday's 82–62 win over Saudi Arabia.
Despite a tough shooting night from three ( just 4-of-28), Bahrain made up for it with effort. They out-rebounded Saudi 72–53, forced 18 turnovers, and piled on 34 fast-break points. The game wasn't always polished, but it was all Bahrain.
Even when the shots aren't falling, this team finds a way to grind out wins. That resilience has defined their tournament so far.
Frontcourt Holding
It Down Hassan Oshobuge Abdulkadir once again set the tone in the paint — 18 points, 22 rebounds. Somto Patrick Onoduenyi added 11 points, 17 boards, and 6 assists, including several fast outlet passes that led to easy buckets in transition.
Mohamed Adel Abdulla played all 40 minutes and dropped 19 points. His ability to shift gears and take defenders off the dribble has been key to Bahrain's rhythm offensively.
UAE Still Searching
UAE, meanwhile, are 0–2. They dropped their opener 63–44 to Kuwait and followed it up with a 73–30 loss to Saudi Arabia. Both games exposed struggles with ball-handling under pressure and defensive transition.
They've shown flashes of talent but haven't been able to put together a full game. Still, they'll be eager to spoil Bahrain's unbeaten streak.
What's Left to Play For
The final day of the GBA Championship is set for Saturday, when Kuwait face Saudi Arabia and Oman take on the UAE. But tonight, all eyes will be on whether Bahrain can stay perfect.
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