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With
the score tantalizingly poised at 68-all and with less than
four minutes in the even-keeled encounter, Tate took charge
of the proceedings. A three-pointer followed by two
under-the-basket conversions gave his side the cushion of
relief.
And when Hamed Ehadadi blocked rival center Yasseen Musa,
Tate seized the opportunity again with a center-court
three-pointer following it up with a sizzling drive through.
The only instance Tate did not score from the field during
this spree was when he earned a shooting-action foul.
Success with both his throws saw Tate, and in turn Saba,
record a 14-2 run in the last 3:49. A run that took the wind
off Rayyan’s sails.
“What can we do against such an inspired run!” wondered
Rayyan coach Brian Lester. “Such things are made of
championship material,” lauded Saba coach Mehran Shahintab.
As for Tate himself, he put in rather succinctly: “That’s
what I came here for.”
That spree took Tate who had a none-too-impressive earlier
presence in the game to a game-high 30 points. “Look, I
hadn’t been having a great tournament. So I thought it was
my responsibility to deliver now,” Tate said.
“There was no better moment than this to deliver. To
influence the game, in the final five minutes of a
championship game is a dream every professional lives for,”
he said.
Exchanges had been till then equal in the encounter – in
quality as well as quantity. Neither enjoyed any major edge
and even those minor advantages earned were nullified before
growing to dangerous proportions.
Tate, incidentally, opened the scoring for the game with an
elegant drive-in and Saba never looked back to go into the
first break at 16-15.
Rayyan who managed to remain close came with a 24-13 surge
in the second as Eric Chatfield (with 15 points and five
rebounds) and Yasseen Musa began to find their rhythm. Samad
Nikkah who had done commendably in the first quarter for
Saba, saw his attempts bounce back as Enyinn Mounike fought
a lone battle to bridge the gap on Rayyan.
Another see-saw ensued and this time Saba were back in the
saddle. Samad regained his touch and Mounike continued to
fire. As Hamed Ehadadi came into his own, especially in the
defense, Saba sprang a 32-14 surprise on Rayyan in the third
quarter.
But with Chatfield finding support from his bench players,
Rayyan were always in the race. And when Chatfield sunk a
3-pointer to tie the scores at 68-all, the stage seemed set
for vintage stuff.
Vintage stuff it indeed was, except that it flowed in one
direction; in a direction guided by one man; and in the
direction which took Saba to the title.
“This is a great win for us. What more can I say. I think
this is our gift to Iranian basketball,” Shahintab said.
“I think we made a couple of crucial mistakes earlier in the
game. But Tate sealed the issue for us,” he added.
Scores
Saba Battery 82 (Dajuan Tate 30, Enyinn Mounike 26, Hamed
Ehadadi 18) bt Al Rayyan, Qatar 75 (Eric Chatfield 29,
Yasseen Musa 15, Dalron Johnson 13).
Quarter Scores: 16-15, 29-39, 61-53.
S Mageshwaran
FIBA Asia |
