Players fighting for the rebound.

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 11: Kazma will be out to settle the score when they face Al-Qadsia this evening at 7:30 pm at the Basketball Federation Hall in Round 10 of the league. The round tips off with Kuwait Club vs Al-Nasr at 5:00 pm at the same venue.

Kuwait Club currently leads the standings with 18 points from nine straight wins, remaining the only unbeaten side in the competition. Al-Qadsia, Kazma, and Al-Qurain follow on 16 points each, while Al-Sulaibikhat is fifth with 15 points. Al-Nasr sits sixth on 12 points, ahead of Al-Sahel (11), with Al-Arabi bottom on 10 points.

The league is played over three phases, with the top four teams advancing to the Final Four, which will be decided through a best-of-three playoff format.

Al-Qadsia edged Kazma 101–97 in the first phase and will be aiming to repeat that result to strengthen its push for second place behind leader Kuwait Club. Al-Qadsia has shown clear improvement in recent weeks under Turkish coach Andyak Paiser, who is keen to confirm his team’s ability to compete seriously for the title.

Al-Qadsia boasts a strong lineup featuring Abdulaziz Al-Humaidi, Abdulmohsen Al-Mousawi, and Abdullah Tawfiq, alongside a group of young players and American imports Jomaro Brown and Brandon Garrett.

Kazma, meanwhile, is enduring a tough period due to injuries to three key players — Abdulrahman Al-Sahoo, Abdulaziz Raihan, and American guard Jaguan Jones.

In the day’s other match, Kuwait Club will look to put its recent setback behind it after suffering 88–85 loss to Saudi side Al-Ula in the West Asia League last Tuesday, as it aims to return to winning ways against Al-Nasr.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff