JEDDAH, 17 May 2007 — Tournament favorites and defending champions Al-Riadi of Lebanon and Kingdom teams Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad claimed victories at the start of the quarterfinals yesterday in the AR-sponsored 20th Arab Basketball Federation Championship at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium here.
Al-Riadi stamped their class in a 99-91 triumph over Al-Jazirah from Egypt as four men scored in double figures in the Group 2 contest. Riadi’s high scorer was Ismail Ahmed with 31 points followed by Ace Custas with 29, Omar Al-Turk with 11 and Ali Mahmoud with 10.
Ahli and Ittihad, bracketed in Group 1 and Group 2, took different routes on the way to their initial wins in the round of eight where the top two from each group advance into the semifinals after the group round robin.
Ahli beat Raja’a from Morocco 86-74 while Ittihad needed a five-minute extension to win against UAE Al-Sharjah 95-89. The game was tied 80-80 at the end of regulation play.
In another Group 1 game later in the day, Kuwait of Kuwait defeated Al-Arabi from Qatar 76-76 to join Ittihad for the early leadership in the group.
In the first quarter the Egyptians led by one point 21-20 only to trail Lebanon 46-42 at the turn. The defending champions then broke away in third quarter scoring 29 points in the period against only 11 by the Egyptian.
In the back and forth game Lebanon came out on top even though Egypt scored 38 points in the forth period. For Egypt Ahmed Al Bari had 22 and Wael Alsayeed 17 points.
It was a tight first half. After trading baskets in the first quarter Ahli led by 26-25. They finished the half up 53-48. Ahli coasted to victory playing their big men and enjoying good outside shooting. Kurtis Heywood was Ahli’s top man with 31, Jarred Merrill 24 and Jamel Staten added 18. From Morocco Aumsa Adnan had 25 points.
In easily the game of the night, Ittihad dug deep in their arsenal to overcome Sharjah.
UAE seized a 23-13 lead at the end of the first period and 44-42 at halftime. Ittihad wrested the initiative in the third period 66-61, but the visitors kept coming back.
At the end of regulation play, the score was 80-80 with 16 seconds left and Ittihad’s Priest Lauderdale on the line with two foul shots. He missed them both and time ran out.
In overtime Tony Madison sank five foul shots to save the day for Ittihad, and along with some good defense they were lucky to win. Andre Pitts had a great night before he fouled out. He hit eight three-point shots and scored 36 points for Sharjah. Marcus Brown added 22. For Ittihad Tony Madison had 29 and veteran Ali Maghrabi 20.
Brandon Cramp made 22 points and hauled down 11 rebounds for Kuwait. Olumide Oyedeji added 11 points and 16 rebounds.
