Basketball season concludes with Al-Qadisiya, Kazma showdown

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KUWAIT CITY, May 20: The 2023-2024 basketball season draws to a close with the Federation Cup showdown between Al-Qadisiya and Kazma. The eagerly awaited match is set to tip-off at 9:00 pm at the Al-Ittihad Hall in the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Complex, Sabah Al-Salem suburb. Preceding this clash, at 5:00 pm, is the battle for third and fourth places, featuring Kuwait Club against Qurain.

Al-Qadisiya secured its spot in the final by defeating Al-Qurain in a fiercely contested semi-final with a scoreline of 89-82. The showdown was marked by intense competition, particularly from Al-Qurain, whose players delivered a formidable performance. In the other semi-final, Kazma achieved a remarkable feat by dethroning the reigning champion, Kuwait Club, and exacting revenge for previous defeats suffered at its hands throughout the season.

Throughout the history of the Basketball Association Cup, seven clubs have clinched the title: Al-Qadisiya with 25 titles, Kuwait with 16, Al-Arabi with nine, Kazma with three, Al-Jahra with two, and Al-Sahel with one.

The semi-final encounter between Al-Qurain and Al-Qadisiyah showcased a spirited display from both sides. Despite Al-Qurain’s relative lack of experience, it managed to hold its own against the seasoned Al-Qadisiya team. Al-Qurain led at halftime with a narrow margin of 38-37, but it was Rashid Al-Rabah’s clutch performance in the crucial moments that sealed victory for Al-Qadisiya.

In the other semi-final, Kazma overcame the defending champion, Kuwait Club, with a well-rounded display of defense and attack. Despite a strong start from Kuwait Club, Kazma gradually asserted its dominance and secured a slim one-point victory.

The final promises to be a thrilling encounter between two evenly-matched teams. Kazma, under the guidance of Slovenian coach Bojan Lazic, boasts a talented lineup including Ahmed Al Balushi, Abdulaziz Al Hamidi, Youssef Bourahma, and Abdullah Ibrahim, alongside American professionals Travis Leslie and Clint Chapman. Meanwhile, Al-Qadisiya, led by American coach Anthony Stebbing, relies on the prowess of Muhammad Ashkanani, Rashid Al-Rabah, Muhammad Al-Dakhil, and Abdul Mohsen Al-Moussawi, supported by the trio of Robert Lowry, Ilono, and Martic.

Khaled El Anzi

Al-Seyassah /Arab Times Staff

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