(Photo by Jenner Ong)
With Smart Gilas-Pilipinas on a day off, it’s time for the other teams to take center stage.
Led by Fadih El Khatib’s 25 points, Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut (LIB) edged out two-time defending champions Mahram Tehran BC (IRI) by a count of 76-73 in a battle of two undefeated teams so far during the first night cap game of Day 3 in the 22nd FIBA-Asia Champions Cup on Monday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
On the onset, it appeared to be the day for the seven-time defending Lebanese Basketball League champions when they raced off to a comfortable 12 point lead in the first quarter.
However, the dominance of Senegal native and former LA Lakers second-round draft choice Cheikh Samb and American import Chris Williams in the early goings of the second period brought down their deficit to just a solitary basket by the 8:02 mark.
A five point mini-run by the Beirut club temporarily controlled the bleeding, but Williams yet again seized control of the ballgame for the defending Asian club champions to end the half with a slim two point advantage at 39-37.
Then, things started to get interesting when both squads traded baskets and had three deadlocks in the period in what seemed like a duel between El Khatib and Williams, who each had eight points in the period for their respective clubs. But by the end of the period, the Lebanese ballclub took a three-point advantage into the break at 59-56.
By the start of the fourth period, the two-time third placers in this tournament sought to run away with the victory on the strength of a 9-0 flurry that left Mahram behind. However, a 10 point counter-attack by the four-time defending Iranian Super League titleholders kept their hopes alive in keeping their unblemished record intact.
But Fadih El Khatib, rated as one of the best players in Asia despite his advanced age, took control in the last 2:38 of the ballgame by scoring the entire team’s last eight points and keep them up by three. In a pair of last ditch efforts, Mahdi Kamrani threw up a trey that missed the mark and Cheikh Samb was blocked by Al Riyadi counterpart Loren Woods.
Jean Abd El Nour finished with 15 points, while Ismali Ismail Ahmad added 14 points and 15 rebounds to complete Al Riyadi’s cast of leading scorers.
Chris Williams led all scorers with 32 points, while Samad Nikkhah had 18 in their losing cause. Big man Cheikh Samb was held down to a low of 9 points and just 5 rebounds in a lackluster performance.
In the other Group B matchup, Al Rayyan (QAT) took care of Al Shabab (UAE) with a 78-60 win to cap off the day. Targuy Ngombo led the Qatar squad with 21 points and 10 rebound performance, followed by Yaseen Musa’s 17 markers.
Earlier in the day, ASU (JOR) outpointed Al Ittihad (KSA) via a 79-69 decision in the day’s opening match in Group A. Mousa Alawadi tallied 26 points, while Sam Daghles contributed 14 points and 9 assists to their cause.
On the other hand, former Smart Gilas-Pilipinas reinforcement CJ Giles led Duhok (IRQ) to victory over ASEAN Basketball League third-placers Westports KL Dragons (MAS), 88-76, in the other Group A encounter. The 2.11 meter center marked for 28 points and 15 rebounds. Quitaiba Al-Doori and Chudnay Earl Gray each had 19 points in the process.
Complete Day 3 Results:
ASU (JOR) def. Al Ittihad (KSA), 79-69
Duhok (IRQ) def. Westports KL Dragons (MAS), 88-76
Al Riyadi (LIB) def. Mahram, 76-73
Al Rayyan (QAT) def. Al Shabab (UAE), 78-60
Standings (as of 5/30)
GROUP A
Smart Gilas (PHI) 2-0
ASU (JOR) 2-0
Duhok (IRQ) 1-2
Al Ittihad (KSA) 1-2
Westports KL Dragons (MAS) 0-2
GROUP B
Al Rayyan (QAT) 2-0
Al Riyadi (LIB) 2-0
Mahram (IRI) 2-1
Al Jala’a (SYR) 0-2
Al Shabab (UAE) 0-3
