JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) - Zine Eddine proved to be the difference as Qatar notched a 76-73 victory over Saudi Arabia in a thrilling end to their Window 3 run in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, Sunday.
The bruising 23-year-old forward finished with 12 points, 10 of which he poured in the deciding chapter alone to spearhead the Gulf contenders' rally after playing catch-up for the majority of the match.
The game was tied at 71-all after Mathna Almarwani's triple but it proved to be the home team's last stand as Bedri took over from there, coming through with huge plays on both ends to shift the momentum in their favor.
He first split his shots from the free throw line to put themselves ahead for good, and then successfully drew a charge on opposing star guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman as the latter drove to the cup strongly.
Bedri went on to nail the biggest trey of the night, taking advantage of the defensive lapse that left him wide open from the top of the key to push their lead to two possessions, 75-71, with 58.6 seconds to go.
...to be able to host it (FIBA World Cup) is something that only a few countries get to experience, so we all understand how special this opportunity is.
The game started to slip away from Saudi Arabia, and Qatar soon celebrated at center court after clinching the no. 2 spot in Group B (4-2) - much to the disappointment of the home team fans inside the King Abdullah Sports City.
"There were moments that could have broken the team and the game, but my team showed how determined they are," head coach Hakan Demir proudly said moments after the match. "This is a big win for Qatar."
Besides doubling their win total from the 2019 World Cup Qualifiers, the 2027 World Cup hosts have taken down Saudi Arabia for the first time in major FIBA competitions after losing in their first four encounters.
Head-to-Head: Qatar vs Saudi Arabia
And playing a major role in this breakthrough of sorts was Bedri, who shot 40-percent from the field and also collected 5 rebounds and 1 assist in the 13 minutes and 11 seconds he played coming off the bench.
To think that this is just his first rodeo in the World Cup Qualifiers ever makes it all the more remarkable - he made his Qualifiers debut against, coincidentally, Saudi Arabia as well last June 29.
"It's an honor to represent Qatar at this level," the 2.08 M (6'9") big man said. "I’m grateful to the coaching staff, the federation, and the management for believing in me and giving me this opportunity."
"Since my first day with the team, I’ve felt welcomed by everyone, especially my teammates, and that has made the transition very smooth," he continued. "I’m excited to continue growing with this group."
The 2027 World Cup Qualifiers are in fact just his second stint overall with Qatar, the first one being the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 held in this very same city. They finished 13th in the tilt eventually ruled by Australia.
It wasn't the kind of campaign they had hoped for yet it served as a crucial building block toward the team they'd want to build for next year's global spectacle, and Bedri himself actually provided one of the silver linings.
Quickly becoming a key cog in Demir's rotation, the Columbia University alumnus finished the tilt with 12.0 points on 40.5-percent shooting alongside 6.0 rebounds in three games.
To make that kind of impact says a lot about his quality as a player, and has given Qatar another piece to watch out for as they continue to tread the road en route to developing the best team possible for the World Cup.
Along with it comes the pressure, though, and Bedri himself is very much cognizant of that. But, he has been taking it in stride by looking at national team duties as an honor instead of a responsibility whatsoever.
Because he knows that something so, so special is coming home.
"I see it more as a privilege than a responsibility. The World Cup is a special opportunity that only comes around once every four years," he offered.
"And to be able to host it is something that only a few countries get to experience, so we all understand how special this opportunity is, and we will do everything we can to represent Qatar in the best way possible."
Adding more to that privilege personally is being able to put on not just for the country for something bigger - the 2027 hoops conclave, for starters, will be the very first World Cup to be held in the Arab world.
"Having the chance to represent the Arab community on the World Cup stage would be incredibly meaningful," said Bedri.
There is so much young talent across the Arab world, and I think this is a great opportunity to showcase that talent on the global stage.
"I hope our team can inspire the next generation of players and show that hoopers from our region can compete at the highest level," he closed.
FIBA