A Qatar Maroon player attempts to shoot a basket during his side’s match against Philippines at the FIBA Asia 3x3 Championships at Villaggio Mall, yesterday. Qatar Maroon won 21-11. RIGHT: Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani (right), President of Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF), Sheikh Saud bin Ali Al Thani, President FIBA Asian (centre), and Hagop Khajirian, Secretary General of FIBA Asia watch the matches. PICTURES BY: ABU WASSFY
DOHA: There was good and bad news in equal measure for the home fans as both of Qatar’s teams reached the quarter-finals of the inaugural FIBA Asia 3x3 Championships for Men’s and Women’s at Villaggio Mall yesterday.
Qatar Maroon, who won all three of their games, and Qatar Grey, who lost one match out of three, qualified for the last-eight stage where the two sides have now been drawn against each other.
The two home teams face-off in the quarter-finals at 4:30pm in a game that ensures that one side will reach the semi-finals.
Also yesterday, Iran were drawn against Chinese Taipei in the second quarter-finals. Iran, who lost to Indonesia, beat Turkmenistan and India to reach the quarters.
Chinese Taipei lost to Saudi Arabia but beat Nepal and Lebanon to seal their berth in the last-eight stage.
Philippines, backed by a sizable crowd at Villaggio Mall, also reached the quarter-finals.
They now take on Jordan while India, despite losing to Iran, secured a quarter-final match against Saudi Arabia.
Earlier, Qatar Maroon beat Philippines 21-11 and then crushed Mongolia 21-16 before thumping Sri Lanka 18-11.
Qatar Grey lost to Jordan 7-11 in their first match but followed up with a hard-fought win against Japan 22-18. In their third match, Qatar Grey hammered Hong Kong 20-11.
In the women’s event, Turkmenistan reached the quarter-finals where they will take on Nepal.
Also in the last-eight stage, Mongolia take on Sri Lanka, Hong Kong face Lebanon while India will clash with Qatar Maroon.
Qatar Maroon lost two of their three matches but managed to beat Indonesia 14-10.
Meanwhile, participating players and team officials have given their thumbs-up to the match venue - the ice rink at Villaggio Mall.
“It’s a fantastic venue to play streetball,” Fadi Tabet, the Head of Lebanese delegation for the competition here, told FIBA Asia website.
“It has all the settings to play 3x3 basketball. I am sure we’ll enjoy playing here,” he said.
Leader of Indian delegation, Suman Sharma said: “The 3x3 concept is so exciting that we can play as many games as required. It’s (the 3x3) is all about enjoying the fun of playing basketball.”
A total of 16 teams started the men’s event whereas 10 women’s teams hit the three courts.
The two-day event is being organised by Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF).
THE PENINSULA
