DTT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
The stage for the organization of groups D and F in Bahrain in the third and final qualification window for the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 is ready from tomorrow.
The Secretary General of the Bahrain Basketball Association Ahmed Yousuf confirmed yesterday that all preparations have been completed at the Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town, where the game will be hosted.
He added that by now all participating national teams will have arrived in the Kingdom with representatives from FIBA, the governing body of international basketball.
Group D includes Lebanon, Iraq, India and hosts Bahrain, while Group F includes Palestine, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka and Jordan, although the Jordanians will no longer play in this window after positive COVID-19 tests among several players and delegation members.
Yousuf praised the efforts of all those involved in the Organizing Committee as well as the government institutions for their support in putting together all the necessary requirements for admission to the qualifiers.
The official team photo shoots with the FIBA-accredited BBA photographer begin today. In the meantime, the participating national teams continued their training in the Khalifa Sports City Arena and in the Zain Basketball Arena in Um Al Hassam before the game started.
FIBA’s decision to postpone qualifying for Jordan in this window has reduced the number of games to just eight over the next five days. Everyone should be kept behind closed doors.
The Jordanians should go to the hardwood four times, first against Palestine tomorrow, then against Sri Lanka on Friday, then against Kazakhstan on Sunday and finally against Palestine again on Monday.
“The status of these games will be decided at a later date,” FIBA said in a statement on its website.
“FIBA will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and provide further updates on its competitions as appropriate,” she added. Bahrain will play twice, first against Group D leaders Lebanon on Saturday and then against Iraq on Monday. The national team has continued to prepare for qualification on-site under the supervision of the national team head coach and 1986 NBA champion Sam Vincent. There are currently 14 players on the training team, including Mohammed Qurban, Maitham Jameel and Hesham Sarhan from defending Bahraini league champions Al Ahli. Mohammed Hussain, Ahmed Salman, Mohammed Ameer, Hasan Nowrooz and Ahmed Najaf from Manama; Mohammed Juma’a, Mohammed Buallay and Mohammed Kuwayed from Muharraq; Abdulrahman Ghali from Al Hala; and Ali Jaber and CJ Giles from Al Najma. The hosts are currently runner-up in Group D with a 3-1 win record, but have already secured their places in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup, along with Group D leader Lebanon who has a 4-0 mark. India have one win in four games while Iraq are at the bottom of the table with four losses. Jordan top Group F with two wins from as many games, followed by Kazakhstan and Palestine, who have identical 1-1 win-loss records, and Sri Lanka, which is still winless with two defeats.
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