JEDDAH, 21 May 2007 — Defending champions Al-Riadi of Lebanon moved within a victory of retaining their title with an easy triumph 99-73 over Kuwait of Kuwait last night in the semifinals of the ART-sponsored 20th Arab Basketball Confederation Championship at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium.
In reaching the finals the Lebanese displayed tremendous firepower, jumping out to a 37-15 first quarter lead.
The Lebanese team’s import Ace Custas and Alvin Sims scored 34 and 24 points to anchor an unforgiving offense that beat the lights out of the overmatched Kuwaitis. Ismael Ahmed added 13 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for Lebanon.
Al-Riadi scored eight three-point shots in the first quarter where Custas hit four-for-four from beyond the arc to finish with 13 points in the period. Sims poured in 10 in the period.
Riadi sat on a 25-point lead at the half, 57-32, and the outcome was never in doubt after that.
Shamgod led Kuwait with 18 points.
Meantime, Andre Pitts of UAE’s Sharjah leads the race for the Best Player award with 147.26 point average performance followed by Jarred Merrill of Al-Ahli with 142.89 and Boney Watson of Qatar’s Al-Arabia with 127.56. For the Best Scorer award, Pitts and Watson also set the pace with 154 and 147 points so far with Kurtis Haywood of Ahli in third place with 142 points. Ittihad’s Tony Madison and Haywood are tied for the lead in the race for Best 3-Point Shooter plum.
