It was sweet revenge for hosts Al Shabab Club after thumping Hoops Lebanon 90-75 in the final of the 2nd Al Shabab International Basketball Tournament late on Saturday night.

“It was a very meaningful win. We lost in the opening game (94-91) against Hoops but we won the closing game,” Shabab coach Ahmed Mohammed Omar told Sport360°.

The game was fought tooth and nail in the first three quarters and marred only by Hoops Lebanon walking out with less than eight minutes left in the final quarter after coach Omar Hassino complained of “excessive” bad calls from the referees.

They returned after Hoops president Jasem Qanso prevailed on them to return.

“Al Shabab played a very nice game but my problem was the bad calls made by the referees,” Hassino said.

Hoops led early but Joseph Taylor changed the momentum after he hit a triple and Al Shabab Club closed the quarter 21-20.

Al Shabab took control of the game in the next two quarters and remained on top by five, 64-59, going into the fourth period. Hoops rallied in the middle of the fourth and closed the deficit to 69-67, but Al Shabab responded with pressure defence and forced the visitors to commit turnovers.

UAE national player Omar Khaled Al Amri scored back-to-back triples and Jasem Yusuf made another basket to take Al Shabab to 82-71, going into the last two minutes en route to victory.

Elsewhere, Al Sahel of Kuwait beat Barako Bull Energy Cola 84-76 for third place. Al Sahel’s Anthony Green had a game 32 points while Michael Singletary top-scored for the Philippine team with 27 points.

 

* For breaking news, follow us on @Sport_360 or find us on Facebook.