JEDDAH, 19 March 2008 — The final week of the Saudi Basketball Federation AlJawal Tournament leaves only one question unanswered. What team will finish first? Last Friday in Madinah Ohud battled to victory against Ansar in a tough match winning 67-64.
Ohud have a chance to overtake Ansar in the standings though it’s not entirely in their hands to have it done. Ohud have stayed healthy and played together as a team without a defeat in their last eight games.
But Ohud need the help of Ittihad and Ahli if they are to take the top spot. Both teams are playing well and are itching to beat Ansar. Ahli have changed their import players, and is a different team with a good chance of winning. Ittihad have a new coach and a new import player making their chances good for a win even without Ali Magrabi who is out for the next two games.
Ansar is still No. 1 with only one loss and will try to keep it that way. The Jeddah and Madinah teams are still the top four and the two games in Madinah this Thursday and Friday will decide it all.
The next four teams are Hilal, Fath, Wehda, and Qadisia in that order without any strange upsets over the two remaining games. Ansar, Ohud, Ahli and Ittihad are closing out the season with the two toughest games of the year. The upcoming top eight playoff will be a completely different tournament where each of the eight teams can have three import players.
It will be a fast paced playoff where the team that imports the biggest and the best players and stays healthy will win.
