Al Wakra’s Ayeni Olatukombo (in blue) and Al Rayyan’s Watson Boney Harold during their side’s Heir Apparent Cup 2013 match at Al Gharafa Sports Hall yesterday.
By Danotzki Santos
DOHA: Defending champions Al Arabi held their poise in the end game and edged out a 94-83 victory against Qatar Sports Club yesterday in the Heir Apparent Cup (HAC) at the Al Gharafa Sports Hall.
Al Arabi, now on top of Group 2 with their second win, came out strong at the onset and posted a 29-19 advantage at the end of the first period.
The white shirts upped their lead to a high of 17 points at 36-19 early in the second quarter via 7-0 run as Abdullai Jalloh and Antoine Broxsie continued to dominate on the offensive end.
Qatar SC would however shackle their rivals then on and erased the deficit with Chauncey Leslie gaining his touch from the outside.
The squads exchanged baskets in the remainder of the period and finished all squared after 20 minutes of play.
It was close throughout the third with neither team leading more a basket until William Byrd’s buzzer-beating jumper to give Al Arabi a 70-66 edge at the end of the third.
Al Arabi pushed hard at the onset of the final period and unleashed a 14-2 assault to post a commanding 84-69 advantage that broke the backs of their foes even with more than 5 minutes left in the game.
Meanwhile, Al Rayyan survived a late-game surge by Al Wakrah to post their first win in the league.
Returning Darren Kelly ignited a 9-2 Al Wakrah uprising going into the final minutes of the match but missed his attempt from the outside in the last 2 seconds allowing the defending champions to escape with a 74-71 cliff-hanger.
Erfan Saeed top-scored for Al Rayyan while Kelly finished with 27 points.
Coach Brian Rowsom and his boys gun for their second win today against Al Shamal (0-1) in the main game as HAC Group 2 action continue at the Al Gharafa Indoor Arena.
Qatar SC, with a 1-1 record so far, will face Al Wakra at 5.00pm, who have yet to register a victory in the competition.
THE PENINSULA
