News:

11/5/2008
LIB / QAT – Riyadi outwit Rayyan
KUWAIT (FIBA Asia Champions Cup): With their combination showing better cohesion, especially in transferring the ball from the backcourt, Al Riyadi Beirut scored a psychologically crucial 88-79 win over Al Rayyan in the 19th FIBA Asia Champions Cup. Sunday’s win, thus, sealed the Lebanese club’s position on top of Group ‘A’. They now await the fourth placed team from Group ‘B’ in the quarterfinals to be played on Wednesday.
The best tribute for Riyadi’s victory probably came from rival coach Brian Lester. “I think they out shot us completely,” the Australian said.

Fadi El Khatib struck form, leading the side with customary élan, as Riyadi held together against the quality opposition. Fadi top scored the game with 27 points, besides collecting six rebounds. Joseph Vogel struggled with his offense play, a mere eight points to show for his presence, but more than compensated in defense with nine rebounds – six defensive – and four turnovers.
“Imagine how well we can combine once Joe regains his rhythm,” gushed Riyadi coach Fuad Abu Chakra.
“The way the others have risen to the occasion is brilliant especially the way our point guards have shaped,” Chakra said.
Riyadi point guard Ali Mahmoud bagged the MVP for the game, with 23 points, which included six three pointers.
“I think we lost it in the defense,” Lester said.
“We thought we’d outrun them since they were playing their fourth game on the trot, but it backfired on us,” he said.
Eric Chatfield continued with yet another attractive showing. And although Darlon Johnson, Yasseen Musa and Omar Salem combined fairly in offense, the defense combination left a lot to be desired.
“Never mind. It’s a good wakeup call. We can only improve from hear,” Lester said.
Scores
Al Riyadi, Beirut 88 (Fadi El Khatib 27, Ali Mahmoud 23, Ismael Ahmad 21) bt Al Rayyan, Qatar 79 (Eric Chatfield 23, Darlon Johnson 16, Yasseen Musa 14).
Quarter Scores: 20-20, 49-37, 65-60.
S Mageshwaran
FIBA Asia

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KAZ / JOR – Almaty catch Zain off guard
KUWAIT (FIBA Asia Champions Cup): Coach Mazen Trakh chose to play it easy and opted to field his bench for longer than normal and Zain paid the penalty of losing 60-76 to BK Almaty in Group ‘A’ in the 19th FIBA Asia Champions Cup on Sunday.
“We have had a long haul in the last couple of weeks. And we started with two tight games. This was the only game I had to try my bench,” Trakh defended. “Considering the format of the tournament, where we can go through with a win on the morrow, the defeat doesn’t worry me too much,” he said.
Almaty, on the other hand seized the opportunity gleefully

“How does it matter what they were doing or not doing? We have come here with a young and inexperienced lot. A win like this is a huge morale booster,” Almaty coach Alexey Yeropkin said.
Vsevolod Fadeikin topped the scoring with 22 points for the Kazakh outfit.
Scores
BK Almaty, Jordan 76 (Vsevolod Fadeikin 21, Anton Kataev 19) bt Zain, Jordan 60 (Mohammad Hadrab 22, Mosa Bashir 13).
Quarter Scores: 24-15, 40-26, 56-39.
S Mageshwaran
FIBA Asia
 

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IRI / IND – Saba leave ONGC breathless
KUWAIT (FIBA Asia Champions Cup): Having suffered a nerve-wracking defeat to Al Wasl on Friday, defending champions Saba Battery seemed to have utilized the Saturday’s rest day rather well. For, when they took to the court, against Oil and Natural Gas Commission, they looked refreshed, rejuvenated and ready for another fight.
And with the fight from the rivals not coming up to the expected level, Saba cruised through to a 130-76 to keep their hopes of topping Group ‘B’ alive.
There will be a lot of ifs and buts before the Group ‘B’ topper in the 19th FIBA Asia Champions Cup is decided, but Saba seemed unperturbed by all conjectural thoughts.

“A defeat is a defeat. And a win is a win. It was very important for us that the side got back into its rhythm,” Saba coach Mehran Shahintab said.
Not that Saba played at full steam throughout, but certainly blasted off the blocks. Import Dajuan Tate was the leader of the Saba campaign as the Iranian outfit breezed through to a 35-10 run in the first quarter. Tate went on to finish with a game-high 42 points, along with six rebounds. Kamran Jamshidvand made use of his time on the court accounting for 26 points.
ONGC kept themselves close in scoring in the second and third quarters, but the difference in the first and fourth quarters stood glaring.
ONGC, thus await the losers of Monday’s clash between Zain and MUBA Hangtuah to match wits in the play-off for the ninth place.
Scores
Saba Battery, Iran 130 (Dajuan Tate 42, Kamran Jamshidvand 26, Mahdi Kamrani 12) bt ONGC, India 76 (Desraj 23, Muraleekrishnan 15).
Quarter Scores: 35-10, 63-38, 92-66.
S Mageshwaran
FIBA Asia

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