Sulaibikhat faces a tough test against Beirut in the Arab Championship

A Sulaibikhat player scores a basket in the opening match.

BIERUT, Oct 10: Sulaibikhat faces a difficult challenge against Lebanon’s Beirut Club at 9 pm today at Ghazir Arena as the 38th Arab Clubs Basketball Championship continues in Beirut, with both teams seeking a second-round victory in Group B. The tournament runs until October 20.

Today’s other Group B fixtures see Qatar’s Al-Arabi take on Syria’s Homs Al-Fida, while Lebanon’s Hops meet Yemen’s Shaab Hadramout. In Group A, Qatar’s Al-Rayyan faces Bahrain’s Manama, Lebanon’s Centralia meets Oman’s Al-Seeb, and Syria’s Ahli Aleppo takes on Lebanon’s Al-Hikma.

Sulaibikhat made a winning start to their campaign, edging Shaab Hadramout 77-76 in a thrilling opener. Beirut also began with a victory, defeating Homs Al-Fida 89-70, while Al-Arabi cruised to an 89-61 win over Hops.

The opening victory has lifted Sulaibikhat’s morale as it pursues a place in the quarter-finals. The competition is particularly significant for the Kuwaiti side, as it marks its first-ever appearance in an international tournament.

Under the competition rules, the top four teams in each group will advance to the quarter-finals. The knockout stage will follow a crossover format, with the Group A winners facing the fourth-placed team in Group B, while the Group A runner-up meets the third-placed team in Group B.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff