Saudi Arabia finish 2nd, Kuwait in 3rd place

MANAMA, Aug 26, (KUNA): Bahrain will play in the 2020 FIBA U-18 Asian Championships, having been crowned champions of the Gulf Basketball Association (GBA) Qualifiers, alongside Saudi Arabia who finished second.

The hosts did so with an emphatic 112-49 triumph over the United Arab Emirates with Kuwait coming third in their first competitive outing since a close to three-year sports ban was lifted last year.

The Kuwaitis were defeated, 46-65, by Saudi Arabia after a two-game winning streak, with their only other loss coming against the hosts in the opening game.

Their performance, in spite of the odds against them after such a lengthy ban, was praised by Kuwait Basketball Federation President Rasheed Al-Enezi.

The competition did much to give the squad an opportunity for much-needed competitive experience, and he vowed that the federation were working to build a “strong team” able to compete in the future.