ULAANBAATAR (Mongolia)- Bahrain took time recalibrate their rhythm – making up for the absence of a mainstay and came into their own in the second half to post a 79-66 win over the Philippines in the Qualification to Quarter-Finals at the M Bank Arena on Thursday.
The result helped the Gulf Sub-Zone Qualifiers champions end a 12-year drought from the Quarter-Finals stage having done the same at the 2013 edition of the competition.
Coach Racem Marzougi’s team now take on three-time former champions China, who booked a direct entry into the Quarter-Finals having won all their three games in Group C.
With Somto Patrick unable to take to court – due to an aberrant injury suffered during recovery – Hassan Abdulkadir, and consequently Bahrain, struggled to get into the wonted rhythm early on.
Hussain Fuad, Mohamed Abdulla and Ali Husain Mohamed fought gallantly to keep Bahrain’s nose ahead going into the locker-room break.
Returning from the locker-room, Abdulkadir coming into his own in the third Bahrain powered away to two critical offense runs, interspersed by Jhustin Hallare’s long-ranger, which eventually proved decisive.
Abdulkadir scored seven of his 15 points for the game during this period, while also pulling down a dozen rebounds for his second successive double-double of the competition.
Abdulla scored 10 of his game-high 22 points, coming in 8/19 field shooting. Ali Husain finished with 15 points and Fuad with 15 points, 12 of them in the first half.
Luisito Pascual’s 10 points (in 4/14 in field shooting) was the highest for Philippines as the South East Asian team went out of a last eight finish for the first time in the history of the competition.
The Quarter-Finals are set for Friday. Click here for the schedule of Quarter-Finals.
FIBA