KUWAIT CITY, April 14: The Kuwaiti under-18 basketball team clinched an exhilarating victory against their Iraqi counterparts with a score of 82-77 in a friendly match held at the Al-Ittihad Hall in the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex. This match served as a vital step in their preparations for the Gulf Championship, a gateway to the Asian Cup finals, set to be hosted by Kuwait from July 29 to August 4.

The Azraq team displayed an impressive performance, demonstrating the progress of our national youth squad. They took an early lead in the first quarter, finishing ahead 16-11, and maintained their edge in the second quarter with a score of 38-35. Despite a tie in the third quarter (56-56), Shabab Al-Azraq secured the win in the final quarter.

Conversely, the Kuwaiti under-15 team faced a setback, succumbing to a defeat against their Iraqi counterparts with a score of 43-89 in another friendly match held on the same day at the Al-Ittihad Hall. This match was also part of their preparations for the upcoming Gulf Championship in Doha, Qatar, scheduled from August 17 to 22.

The Iraqi team dominated the match from the outset, leading 28-7 in the first quarter and extending their advantage to 39-21 by halftime. They further solidified their lead in the third quarter, ultimately securing a convincing victory with a final score of 89-43.

Today, the action continues as the under-15 national team faces off against Iraq at 5:00 pm in the Al-Ittihad Hall, followed by the under-18 national team's clash with their Iraqi counterparts in the same venue.

Hassan Musa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff