Jordanian Fast Link gained their first victory in the Dubai International Basketball Championship in a hard-fought win over Al Ittihad Club of Syria.
It was the team's best performance so far and they certainly needed every little bit of skill they could muster to pull off a narrow 80-78 result.
The match ended up being a spectators delight - full of enthusiasm, excitement and fine basketball from both teams.
Fast Link representing Dubai Duty Free (DDF) led for most of the game, especially after widening the gap to 22 points (39-17) at the beginning of the second quarter.
However, the Syrians representing Al Halabi Factory steadily recovered until they snatched the lead at 78-77 with just 87 seconds left.
Fast Link managed to level and recaptured the lead again, making it 79-78 after two free throws scored by Osama Daghlas.
With nine seconds on the clock, the experienced Syrian player Mohammad Abu Sieda missed a valuable two throws for Al Ittihad. If he had scored, his team would have taken the lead and won the match.
Instead his downcast team found themselves unable to prevent Daghlas from scoring one more point for Fast Link, bringing the score to 80-78.
Again a good chance came for Al Ittihad to stay in the hunt and at least level the scores and play extra-time.
American player Mac Groder Prenes lost his nerve and missed another two free throws for Al Ittihad with only three seconds left. The Syrian supporters were deflated while the Jordanians were overjoyed.
The competition was tight from the very first quarter which Fast Link (DDF) won 21-15. However, they dominated the second from the beginning with swift moves by James Peter, Mario Benet and three points by Anfar Shwabsuga, reaching 39-17.
But Al Ittihad (Al Halabi) formed a strong defence under their basket and Lebanese Fadi Al Khateeb and Abu Sieda were in good form. They scored 14 points in a row and reduced the deficit to 10 points. However, Fast Link again dominated to finish the second quarter 44-33.
In the third quarter, Fast Link's Al Khateeb, Abdul Hamid Okhash and Abu Sieda made the crucial eight points at the end of the quarter.
The fourth quarter was a nail-biting one. Al Ittihad reduced the gap to 64-63 within one minute of play, but Fast Link returned to widen the gap again to nine points.
Al Ittihad pressed hard but let themselves down with missed opportunities in the final seconds.
In the second match played yesterday, Al Riyadhy of Lebanon beat Al Zamalik of Egypt 101-81 (29-15, 48-33, 67-56 and 101-81)
Today's matches:
5pm: Mega Mall v Syriamica. 7pm: Axiom v DDF. 9pm: Al Halabi v Steelfab.
Gulf News
