Kuwait Club celebrates with the championship trophy.

DUBAI, Oct 7: Kuwait Club secured the 37th Arab Clubs Championship title with a thrilling 101-93 victory over Lebanon’s Al-Hikma at Al-Nasr Club Hall in Dubai. Qatari side Al-Arabi claimed third place, defeating Kazma 83-80.

This triumph marks the second Arab title for Kuwait Club following its first win in 2022 in Kuwait. Kuwait played six matches in the tournament, starting with a loss to Ahli Tripoli (Libya) in Group B, before bouncing back with wins over Al-Antony (Lebanon), Al-Manama (Bahrain), and Al-Nasr (UAE) in the round of 16, Al-Rayyan (Qatar) in the quarterfinals, and Kazma in the semifinals, culminating in their victory over Al-Hikma in the final.

Kuwait Club got off to a blistering start, opening the match with a 15-0 run, thanks to early three-pointers, before Al-Hikma began to recover. The first quarter ended 34-25 in favor of Kuwait Club, and it extended its lead to 65-49 by halftime.

After the break, Al-Hikma mounted a strong comeback, closing the gap amid a temporary lapse in focus by Kuwait Club, energized by the cheering of Al-Hikma fans. Still, Kuwait Club held firm, finishing the third quarter 82-81 ahead.

In the fourth quarter, Al-Hikma briefly took the lead at 85-84 and again at 91-87, but Kuwait Club responded under pressure. Hamad and Mohammed Adnan, alongside their teammates, delivered crucial plays in key moments, guiding the team to a well-deserved 101-93 victory.

Ismail Al-Qarqawi, President of the Arab Basketball Federation (UAE), congratulated Kuwait Club, noting that it fully deserved the championship after an impressive performance against one of the strongest Arab teams currently competing.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff