DUBAI (United Arab Emirates) - Deshawndre Washington came through with another triple-double to help Shabab Al Ahli get past Muharraq Club, 89-87, for their first win in the 2025-26 FIBA WASL-Gulf League on Monday.
The 24-year-old finished with 23 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists as he played a key role in helping the reigning Sub-Zone League titlists regain control of the match in the fourth before the narrow escape in the end.
'DWash' was responsible in pushing their lead back to double digits lead late when the visitors rallied back from 14 down in the third, cleaning up Hamed Lateef's miss with a jam for the 85-74 advantage with 4:56 to go.
The Bahraini crew simply wouldn't refuse and came back again, though, chopping the lead to just a field goal with 1:25 to spare. But it was the closest they'd get as Kerwin Roach flunked in his attempt to steal the game.
Washington's feat would then be preserved but more importantly, the home team finally got on board after opening the season with a 94-88 defeat at the hands of Ittihad Club in a rematch of last year's Gulf Final.
Shabab Al Ahli are now at 1-1 and have tied Kazma at no. 2 in Group A, but head coach Miodrag Perisic was far from pleased despited breaking through the win column as he was disappointed with how they finished the bout.
"It was a very important game for us because we didn't open the season well," the Serbian bench tactician said. "But we must see what we should do to never let these things happen again - what happened tonight."
Dikembe Dixson top-scored for the UAE powerhouse with a game-high 30 points - 17 of which he made in the first half - and 9 rebounds as he and Washington carried much of the load offensively for their side.
Dixson was crucial in the fourth quarter as well, following up Qais Alshabebi's conversion from inside by scoring the next five points before Washington rose for the slam for a 9-0 run to build the aforementioned 11-point edge.
Ater Majok and Omer Alameri supplied 9 points apiece while Alshabebi flirted with a double-double with 8 points and 8 rebounds for Shabab Al Ahli, who will next face, coincidentally, Kazma on November 17 in Kuwait.
Roach, on the other hand, finished with 24 points and 8 assists to lead Muharraq, who absorbed their second loss in as many games. Daniel Hamilton backed him up 22 points as the two played all 40 minutes.
Roach, Hamilton, and Mohamed Juma bannered the team's last-ditch attempt to turn the game around, joining hands for the 10-2 run to cut an 87-77 Shabab Al Ahli lead to a distance that's truly winnable.
However, they'd struggle to find the bottom of the net afterward, with Juma missing a layup with 27.5 seconds left. Roach tried to play hero ball by firing from deep with about seven ticks remaining, but missed as well.
Mohammed Ameer made 17 points, while Nick West added 12 points and 7 rebounds in the defeat.
The Red Wolves will shoot for win no. 1 when they take on the 2-0 Ittihad next Monday, November 10, at home.
FIBA