16 October 2010
BEIRUT: A tough opening game for Riyadi Club in the Housam Hariri Basketball tournament 2010 ended in a 73-70 win against Kuwaiti team Qadisiya at the Riyadi Club in Beirut. A half-filled stadium watched the home team give up a reasonably comfortable lead to a three-point lead in the final few seconds, thanks to Jawad Box’s back-to-back 3 pointers in the final minute.
The first quarter started well for the Lebanese club, and after nervous opening minutes with the score at 9-5, Riyadi went on a rampage, Jean Abdel-Nour scoring a three pointer and Lonnie Cooper distributing the ball expertly. By the end of the first quarter, Riyadi had established a comfortable 24-10 lead.
The second quarter started off with some more frantic action from both sides, with both going all out for a win. Within five minutes, the score had gone up to 33-24. While Qadisiya managed to make the lead a slimmer one, Riyadi kept scoring and prevented a real comeback. As the quarter wore on however, Riyadi’s pace slowed a little, and Nasser Sibai teamed with Box to make the first half end 38-31.
Not only did Riyadi’s pace slow a little, but referee calls were controversial to say the least. Ali Mahmoud was called on offensive fouls twice during the quarter, neither very clear, and one after scoring a basket and expecting two points. Instead, Qadisiya got a foul in their favor.
Into the third quarter, Riyadi got back into shape, and picked the pace again, a pace Qadisiya could not keep up with. Mahmoud’s counter attacks were vital at this point, and, as a unit, Riyadi seemed a lot more comfortable both in attack and in defense. Halfway through the quarter, Riyadi managed an impressive 51-40 lead, reminiscent of their first quarter lead. Qadisiya would not lie down though, and hauled itself right back into the game, ending the quarter at 56-50.
The final quarter had Riyadi extend their lead again, Lonnie Cooper and Ali Fakhreddine doing well to give the hosts a 66-57 lead with five minutes to go. The lead was to dwindle however, thanks to Sibai’s shooting and Box’s double three pointers in the dying seconds.
On the game, Riyadi player Joe Vogel said it was not the performance that was desired, as improvement would be needed against stronger teams.
Also on Friday, Sagesse president Talal Makdessi announced his squad for the 2010/11 season while claiming that “Sagesse is for all of Lebanon and not one particular sect” and that “Sagesse is in excellent condition and overcoming all difficulties with great determination.” He also called on the supporters to avoid demagogue slogans that may affect the reputation of Sagesse.
“Any supporter discrediting the club in such a way, the club will wash their hands of them,” said Makdessi. The squad is as follows: Rony Fahed, Fadi Abulmuner, Sabah Khoury, Ghaleb Rida, Hussein Toubeih, Antoni Yameen, Maurice Bou-Kanaan, Tom Ammar, Daniel Fares, Yorgo Abu Taya, Dany Chamoun, Joe Ghattas, and Americans Garnett Thompson and Dmar Johnson.
Copyright The Daily Star 2010.
