Players of Al Gharafa and Al Sadd try to get the ball during their Qatar Basketball League (QBL) match at Al Gharafa Sports Stadium yesterday. RIGHT: Alvin Mofunanya (left) attempts to take a shot despite the blocking efforts of Al Rayyan’s Targuy Ngombo during their side’s QBL match at the same venue. PICTURES BY: KAMMUTTY VP
By Danotzki Santos
DOHA: Al Arabi stunned Al Rayyan to hand the defending champions their first taste of defeat in the Qatar Basketball League (QBL) at the Al Gharafa Indoor Arena, yesterday.
Al Arabi squandered an eight point edge in the dying minutes of the regulation but held on for the win.
Al Arabi’s Alvin Mofunanya and William Byrd were impressive to lift Arabi to their sixth win in the tournament against two losses.
Earlier in the match, Targuy Ngombo of Al Rayyan, made sure the game went into extra time after scoring on the third attempt in the dying seconds of the QBL match.
Abdulai Jalloh had a sterling double-double night for Al Arabi, who contributed with 29 points and 17 rebounds.
His team-mate Wiliam Byrd added 23 points.
For the defending champions, Yaseen Mousa top scored for Al Rayyan with 25 points with Boney Harold Watson adding 22.
In the other QBL match to take place yesterday, point leaders Al Sadd pulled away late in the third period to record a 75-65 win over Al Gharafa. The positive result gave Al Sadd their seventh straight win this season.
The match was closely foughted but Al Gharafa were no pushovers and took the upperhand until early in the second period. Chris Dela Rosa and Khaled Salman led Al Sadd with 19 points a piece.
Whereas, Oussey Ndaye scored 29 points for Al Gharafa in yesterday’s QBL match.
Al Ahli will face Al Shamal in the first match today to be played at 5:00pm.
The second match of the day will be Qatar SC clashing against Al Wakrah in the 7:00pm showdown.
THE PENINSULA
