08-07-2025
Tough start for Oman U-16 in Asian qualifiers
MUSCAT: Oman's U-16 national basketball team began its Gulf region qualifiers campaign for the Asian Championship with a heavy defeat against Bahrain, losing 44–96 in a match held on Monday evening at the Bahrain Basketball Association Arena in Umm Al Hassam, Manama.
The game saw clear dominance from the Bahraini team, which imposed its rhythm from the very first minutes, taking advantage of its superior physical and technical preparation. Bahrain's players demonstrated accuracy in shooting and quick transitions in both offense and defense, while Oman's team struggled with rushed decisions and a lack of focus for most of the game.
In the first quarter, Bahrain came out strong, asserting control through fast play and scoring from various ranges. Oman's players had difficulty penetrating Bahrain's defense, and the quarter ended 31–11 in Bahrain's favor.
The second quarter showed a slight improvement in Oman's performance in terms of positioning and ball pressure. However, defensive lapses and repeated turnovers gave Bahrain easy scoring opportunities, allowing them to widen the gap further and close the quarter 29–12.
In the third quarter, fatigue became apparent among Oman's players, whose defensive performance declined alongside a lack of concentration in passing and slow coverage. Bahrain capitalised on this, scoring heavily through fast breaks and ending the quarter 19–8.
The Omani squad in the tournament includes 12 players, coached by Tunisian Zouheir Al Ayashi
The fourth quarter witnessed individual attempts by Oman players to reduce the deficit, notably by Al Mulhim al Obaidani and Adam al Hinai, but Bahrain's defense remained solid and maintained their dominance. The quarter ended 17–13, sealing a comprehensive 96–44 win for Bahrain.
From Oman's side, standout player Al Mulhim al Obaidani scored 17 points, followed by Adam al Hinai with 12 points, Rashid al Siyabi with 7 points, and Saif al Yahyai with 6 points. For Bahrain, Somto Patrick led with 15 points, while Mohammed Adel added 12, and Hassan Abdulqadir contributed 11 points.
The Omani squad in the tournament includes 12 players, coached by Tunisian Zouheir Al Ayashi, with Omani assistant coach Ali al Balushi. Team management is overseen by Ghassan al Busaidy, with Amer al Zaidi serving as the team's physiotherapist. Also present to support the team is Abu Bakr al Jahwari, Vice-President of the Oman Basketball Association (OBA).
UPCOMING MATCHES FOR OMAN:
Oman continues its qualifying campaign with a crucial match against Kuwait on Wednesday. The third game will be against Saudi Arabia on Friday, July 11, followed by the final group match against the UAE on Saturday evening.
