JEDDAH, 28 March 2006 — The Saudi Basketball League championship playoffs start on Thursday at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium here. The top six club teams in the Kingdom namely Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Ohod, Al- Ansar, Al-Qadisiya, and Al-Hilal face each other in a two defeat and out contest. Here’s how they match up against each other.
Ittihad: Shamgod is out with an injury. His replacement will be Michael Sanders, a good ball handler and three-point shooter. Center Steven Howard is the best in the league, great inside scorer and passer, good outside shooter and good rebounder. Forward Ali Mughrabi is the best in the league good inside scorer, passer and rebounder and good three point shooter. Forward Adel Johani is a good three-point shooter and defender. Jabar Al Shamrani, a good three point shooter and fast break scorer. Coupled with the league’s best center and forward Ittihad also have good three point shooters and good bench players that play team ball. A hot favorite for the title.
Ahli: The lineup will be a surprise, the club is not talking. The regulars will be present. Uthman may be off the injury list and he is working out with the club. Fawaz is playing well, a good penetrator and shooter. Yasser Muthar good rebounder, inside scorer, outside shooter. Khalid Falatha, good ball handler, passer, and three-point shooter. Team lack inside power game but match up well in other areas. Solid bets for second place and the surprise players could make the difference.
Ohod: The league’s best guard Abdul Mohsen is great inside and outside shooter, penetrator, passer, and defender. Nervine has good moves to the basket, and he is a shooter and rebounder as well. Abraham Keyta big man good shot blocker, rebounder, inside scorer. Walid Al Medani great rebounder, good shooter. Team will do well if they play together, lack inside power game. The favorites for third or fourth.
Ansar: Mohamad Konate good rebounder and inside player. Jules Aw good inside scorer, and rebounder. Ahmed Essa quick ball handler, great shooter, passer, and tough defender. Ansar have the quickest team running the floor, great defense but fall short with inside power. They can run with the best, but not push with the rest. The pushing game will win. Ansar third or fourth.
Qadisiya: Coach Ali Sanhani has done a great job with this team. Greg Gray has great power moves to the basket, a good rebounder, passer, and shooter. Cortney Fields good inside rebounder, shooter. Raid Edris shoots from outside, passes, and defends. Ahmed Samenter fast shooter good rebounder. Qadisiya match up against all the clubs and could surprise them with a good shooting night.
Hilal: Jamal Hunter has good fast moves to the basket, shoots good, rebounds well. James Boyer good inside play and rebounds. Fahad Al Ahmed shooter, tough and fast. Hilal not fast enough not powerful enough inside. Not in the final four.
Ittihad face Qadisiya in the first game at 5:50 p.m. on Thursday. The second game between Ahli and Hilal follows at 8:10 p.m.
