Al Arabi's Elmedin Kikanovic (left) shoots to score.
Doha, Qatar: Al Arabi and Al Rayyan booked their places in the final of the 45th Qatari Men’s Basketball League for the 2025-2026 season after securing play-off semifinal wins yesterday at Al Gharafa Hall.
The defending champions, Al Arabi edged Al Sadd 76-74 in a thrilling encounter yesterday to complete a two-game sweep and confirm their spot in the title clash, which will be a re-mach of last year’s final. The result yesterday followed a dominant 95-78 win in the opening game, played on March 23.
Al Sadd started stronger and led the first quarter 22-16. Al Arabi responded with authority, turning the game around to take a 44-32 lead at halftime. The contest tightened in the third quarter as Al Sadd fought back to level the scores at 57-57. Al Arabi held firm in the closing stages to secure the narrow win.
Captain Khaled Abdelbaset delivered 14 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists in 24 minutes after coming off the bench. Elmedin Kikanovic, who was later named the Most Valuable Player, led the scoring for Al Arabi with 20 points along with 9 rebounds and 2 assists, while Mustafa Husein Ali Ahmed Rashed added 15 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists.
For Al Sadd, captain Moustafa Fouda produced a game-high 30 points. Steven Bernard Green contributed 21 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists, but their efforts were not enough to push the play-offs to a decisive third game.
In the other semi-final, Al Rayyan defeated Al Ahli 93-88 to complete the final lineup.
Al Rayyan led 20-19 after the first quarter and tied the second at 22-22. Al Ahli fought to stay in contest leveling the third quarter 25-25 to stay within a point (66-67), but Al Rayyan closed the fourth 26-22 to finish off with a five-point lead.
Rolands Freimanis starred with 41 points for Al Rayyan in a MVP-winning performance, while Mohamed Hashem Zidan led Al Ahli with 25.
The first match of the best-of-three final will be played tomorrow, with dates for the second final, and a possible third final set for April 2 and 4 respectively. Al Sadd face Al Ahli in the third-place playoff, also tomorrow.
