Kazma player commands the court with skillful play.

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 30: Kuwait Club strengthened its grip on the top of the basketball league standings after cruising to a dominant 122–84 victory over Al-Arabi in the ninth round, which also featured Kazma’s 94–67 win over Al-Sulaibikhat.

The results saw Kuwait Club move clear at the top with 18 points, maintaining a perfect record of nine wins from nine matches. Kazma climbed to second place with 16 points, level with third-placed Al-Qadsia, while Al-Qurain sits fourth on 14 points. Al-Sulaibikhat follows with 13 points, ahead of Al-Nasr (12), Al-Sahel (10), and Al-Arabi at the bottom with 8 points.

In the opening game, Kuwait Club’s Serbian coach Dusan rotated his squad and gave valuable minutes to younger players. The “White” side asserted control early, finishing the first quarter 24–13 ahead, before extending the margin in the second quarter behind an outstanding display from playmaker Turki Al-Shammari, the game’s leading scorer with 26 points, to reach halftime with a 54–29 advantage.

Kuwait Club continued to dominate in the third quarter, stretching the lead to 83–63, and then capped off an emphatic performance with a commanding final-quarter surge to seal a 38-point win.

In the second match, Kazma imposed its authority from the tip-off, edging the first quarter 23–19. The “Orange” side built on that lead in the second quarter, driven by Serbian standout Mihovitch, who led his team with 25 points, as Kazma went into the break ahead 40–28.

Although Al-Sulaibikhat showed greater resistance in the third quarter, Kazma maintained control to finish it 62–51, before pulling away decisively in the final period to secure a comfortable victory.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff