Latest news with #MergerLeague
Arab Times
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait Club and Kazma claim thrilling victories in semifinals
KUWAIT CITY, April 24: Kuwait Club edged past Al-Qurain with a 102-95 victory in the semifinals of the Basketball League Playoffs. The high-octane clash took place at the Basketball Association Hall within the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex. Despite a strong showing from Al-Qurain, who pushed the defending champion and Merger League leaders to the limit, Kuwait Club's experience ultimately proved decisive. The "Sons of Kaifan" held their nerve to take a crucial step toward the finals. In another nail-biting semifinal, Kazma emerged victorious over Al-Qadsia with a narrow 103-101 win. The tightly contested encounter saw momentum swing between both sides, with the 'Orange' squad only clinching the win in the final moments. The semifinal series continues tomorrow, Saturday, with Kuwait Club facing Al-Qurain and Kazma going up against Al-Qadsia once again. A second win for both Kuwait and Kazma would secure their spots in the league finals. However, victories for Al-Qurain and Al-Qadsia would force a third and decisive matchup. The Basketball League champion will be determined through a best-of-five playoff format.
Arab Times
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait Club aims to stay perfect against Qadsia
KUWAIT CITY, April 17: Basketball fans are set for a thrilling showdown tonight at 6:30 PM at the Basketball Association Hall in the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex, where Kuwait Club faces off against Qadsia in the final game of the second division of the Merger League. Despite both teams already securing their spots in the semi-finals, alongside Kazma and Al-Qurain, this encounter promises excitement and high-level performance. Kuwait Club enters the match unbeaten, topping the standings with 29 points after a flawless run. Qadsia, meanwhile, sits second with 27 points, having suffered losses to Al-Qurain (80-96), Al-Sulaibikhat (97-101), and Kazma (94-104). Regardless of tonight's result, Qadsia is set to face Kazma in the semi-finals, while Al-Qurain, in fourth, will take on reigning champions Kuwait in a best-of-three playoff series. Qadsia's Spanish head coach, Javier Munoz, sees tonight's clash as a vital tune-up ahead of their semi-final bout. He's counting on key local talents such as Abdulaziz Al-Humaidi, Abdulmohsen Al-Moussawi, Abdullah Tawfiq, Rashed Al-Rabah, Saud Al-Ibrahim, and veteran Mohammed Ashkanani, in addition to foreign stars David Elono, Cedric Henry, and Jonathan Williams. On the other side, Kuwait Club's Serbian coach Oliver Kostic has led his team through a dominant campaign, employing a deep rotation that includes standouts Hamad and Mohammed Adnan, Hussein Al-Khabbaz, Turki Hamoud, Musaed Al-Otaibi, Alexander Al-Ghais, Imran Johar, and Yousef Al-Hamdan. The trio of professionals—Jakar Sampson, Augustin Orbet, and Robert Lowry—has also played a key role in their success. While tonight's result won't alter the semi-final matchups, the historic rivalry between Kuwait Club and Qadsia ensures a highly competitive and unpredictable encounter.
Arab Times
23-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Nasr overpowers Al-Arabi 114-91
KUWAIT CITY, March 23: Al-Nasr secured a dominant 114-91 victory over Al-Arabi at the Basketball Association Hall in Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Complex, as part of the Merger League's second division. With this win, Al-Nasr (Al-Annabi) improved to 18 points, while Al-Arabi (Al-Akhdar) remained at 17 points, suffering its third consecutive defeat after losses to Kazma, Sulaibikhat, and Al-Nasr. Both teams are now focusing on improving their league standings, having missed out on semifinal qualification for the championship title. Al-Nasr controlled the game from start to finish, winning all four quarters. It led 23-20 after the first quarter and extended its advantage to 53-47 by halftime, thanks to a 31-point second quarter. Al-Nasr delivered its strongest defensive performance in the third quarter, restricting Al-Arabi to just 17 points, while American star Ibrahima Thomas led the charge with 31 points. The final quarter saw Al-Arabi score 27 points, but Al-Nasr responded with 30, sealing a comfortable 23-point win. American player Tomer was Al-Arabi's top scorer with 29 points.
