JEDDAH, 8 April 2006 — Al-Ahli fulfilled their date with history in style, coming back from a 17-point deficit late in the third quarter yesterday to beat Al-Ittihad 82-74 and win their first Saudi Basketball League title at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium here.
Ahli, forced to go the distance after Ittihad won 76-74 on Thursday, mounted a hot fourth quarter rally to turn things around and close out the best-of-three championship series two games to one. Ahli won the series opener 97-84 on Wednesday.
Prince Talal ibn Badr, president of Saudi Basketball Federation, presented the trophies and medals to the winners during the awards ceremony after the game.
With the richly deserved victory the future came two years early for Ahli, a non-entity in the local basketball until management pumped money three years ago to start a five-year development plan.
In reaching the final four Ahli again proved they are at par with the country’s best and the championship crown validated their new status as basketball power.
Lanky forward Yasser Mukthar raced downcourt for a monster dunk to put the exclamation point to the victory in the final minute. That put Ahli out of reach 79-72.
Mukthar finished with 19 points. He was part of a three-pronged Ahli attack that also included Bobby Madison with 25 and Damon Forney with 20.
Madison hit five three-point shots including the one that gave the young Ahli team the lead for good 69-68 with five minutes to play.
Cheered by their throng of fans doing the wave in a sea of green and white, Ahli went on an 8-3 tear to wrest a five-point lead at 77-72 going into the last two minutes.
After Ittihad enjoyed their biggest lead of 17 points at 67-50 Madison countered with a three-pointer to spark Ahli’s amazing comeback.
Ittihad raced to an early lead with down low baskets by Sten Howard and Ali Mughrabi. Ahli picked up the pace with good shooting by Madison, Forney and Mukhtar. The first quarter ended with Ahli on top 24-14.
In the middle of the second period, Ittihad brought in Jaber Al-Shamrani who sank 3 threes and two foul shots and put Ittihad up by half time 43-36. The third period ended 68-55 for Ittihad. For Ittihad Michael Sanders finished with 21. Mughrabi and Howard each had 14 and Al-Shamrani 11.
