JEDDAH, 12 April 2007 — Al-Ansar overcame a gritty Al-Ahli 67-64 to clinch the third place in the AlJawal-sponsored Saudi Basketball League at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium complex here last night.

Jihad Mohammad was the topscorer for Ansar, scoring 29 points and Jules Camara too pitched in with 23 points. For Ahli, Jared Merrill had 29 points and Yassar Mutar scored 21.

Earlier, local favorites Al-Ittihad lived up to their fans’ expectations by winning the first game in the best-of-three final against Al-Ohud 79-67. The Ittihad scoring troika Adel Al-Johani, Tony Madison and Priest Lauderdale scored 17 points each. For Ohud, Ismail Samaka had 21 points and an injured point-guard Calvin Cage scored 13 points.

Ittihad need one more win to wrap up the final today or tomorrow.

• Al-Ittihad and Ohud made it through to the final round on Monday.

Ittihad handed Ansar their second defeat and advanced to the final, where they will meet Ohud, who beat Al-Ahli 86-76.

In the first game, Ittihad were leading 23-10 by the first quarter. The lead switched as a spurt by Jihad Mohammad helped Ansar grab a one-point lead 39-38. Jihad had scored 31 points the night before against Ittihad. Jabber Al-Kabi, meanwhile, picked up his fifth foul early in the third quarter trying to stop Jihad, who limped out of the game with an ankle injury.

Taking advantage of Jihad’s absence, Ittihad intensified their pressure and on so many occasions dribbled past the Ansar defenders to score baskets. The third quarter finished in Ittihad’s favor, 67-54.

Maintaining the tempo, Ittihad scored 20 more points in the last quarter with some incisive passes and dunking shots. Ansar switched tactics to change the course, but Ittihad did not let slip their grip for an 80-60 win.

Tony Madison and Priest Lauderdale are both averaging over 20 points a game playing only 25 minutes a game while Ansar’s Jihad has been hitting 30 points a night against all opponents he faced.

The second game of the night saw Ohud and Ahli match up well against each other and they battled evenly in the first three quarters until Ohud’s point guard Calvin Cage went all out in the fourth, scoring 18 points and winning the game for Ohud 86-7.

Nursing an injury, Cage only played one minute in the first half, but finished the game leading Ohud with 25 points and 7 assists. He has averaged 30 points a game in the playoffs. Jared Merrill had another great night scoring 37 points for Ahli. The quality of players in the league has gotten better this year and now all fans will be watching how Tony Madison and Calvin Cage match up when they play each other for the best two out of three for the championship.