Champion Al Gharafa team players and officials celebrate with the Emir's Cup trophy at the Al Gharafa Indoor hall. Al Gharafa put up a splendid display to beat El Jaish 92-82 and secure their fourth Emir's Cup title. Picture: Baher Amin/The Peninsula
Sammy Monroe Jr. II shot 41 points as Al Gharafa put up a splendid display to beat El Jaish 92-82 and emerge Emir’s Cup basketball champions at the Al Gharafa Indoor Hall.
In the final of what is regarded as the most lucrative basketball tournament in the country, the defending champions and pre-tournament favourites El Jaish took an early lead, adding 23 points in contrast to Al Gharafa’s 19.
But Al Gharafa cagers impressively fought back in the second quarter to narrow the gap to just one point at 44-43.
Determined Al Gharafa took the lead early in the third quarter after levelling scores at 45-all and never looked back. The scored read 65-61 in favour of Al Gharafa at the end of third quarter.
However, El Jaish tried to fight back in the final minutes of play, taking the lead at 65-66, and thereafter both teams were putting in a lot of efforts to stay on top.
But Al Gharafa’s US-born star Monroe Jr. II was in full swing and led his team’s fight in a bid to reign supreme at the final whistle.
Monroe Jr. II made five assists and 12 rebounds during his 40-minute stay on court to give the upper hand to Al Gharafa on their way to win the title while Hassino Ndoye (12) and Malek Salem Abdulla (10) added valuable points for the champions.
El Jaish collected points through a courageous effort from Dominic James Davon who was the main contributor with 34 points, seven rebounds and five assists while Fadi Hani Abilmona added 17 points.
In addition to their fourth Emir’s Cup trophy, Al Gharafa also walked away with a whopping QR1m cash award while the runners-up El Jaish took home half the amount.
