JEDDAH, 13 May 2007 — Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli took De La Salle from Palestine in a breeze 92-53 last night for their second straight victory in preliminary round play in the ART sponsored 20th Arab Basketball Confederation Championship at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal stadium here.
The game was a slow starter with neither team buying a basket after three minutes passed. By the end of the first quarter Ahli were up 20- 14. At halftime Ahli had doubled Palestine’s score 51-25 to open the way for a blowout. Ahli shot 63% from the field against 41% for De La Salle. Ahli’s Jarred Merrill led all scorers with 21 points, and Curtis Haywood had 20. For De La Salle Amar Norfil had 17.
In yesterday’s first game, Al-Ittihad from Syria beat Maktabah from Sudan 114 –77. Syria took the lead early in the first period 37- 19. Sudan settled down and outscored Syria in the second by four points but remained down by 14 points 57-43. In the third Syria hiked their lead to 20 points, 84-64. Syria took the runaway game and they needed the win after dropping their first game. Syria’s Kevin Jolie had 31 points and Lamine Had 21. Sudan’s William Mills had 24 and Obri Simon 15. Syria shot 68% and Sudan only 46% from the field.
Al-Arabi from Qatar beat Yarmouk from Yemen 107-87 to notch their second win in as many outings. Qatar controlled the middle with a slew of big men led by Ben Walker, who made 20 points.
Boney Watson topscored for Qatar with 47 points. Yemen’s Tardik Okee had 28, and Suliman Iberihim 26.
Today’s games will feature Bufrik from Algeria against Lebanon Al-Riadi at 4 p.m., Al-Jazirah of Egypt against Al-Seeb from Oman at 6 p.m. and the Kingdom’s Ittihad against Al-Hela from Iraq at 8 p.m.
