DOHA (Qatar) - Al Arabi SC kept their flickering hopes alive in the 2025-26 FIBA WASL-Gulf League following a crucial 82-67 victory over Sharjah SC on Tuesday night at the Al-Gharafa Sports Club Multi-Purpose Hall.
The Qatari Basketball League outfit got off to a 15-6 start and that proved to be enough to dictate the pace in their favor to eventually snap out of a harrowing three-game slide in Group B and resuscitate their campaign.
It was, furthermore, a sweet, vengeful win for the Red Devils after falling just short in their first encounter, a narrow 91-89 decision last November 4 in Dubai that also foiled their bid posting back-to-back wins.
Both teams are now carrying identical 2-3 records but Al Arabi clearly have the edge following the 15-point win, thus replacing their opponents at no. 3 in the pool to sit behind 3-2 teams Kuwait Club and Al Ula Club.
Interestingly, Al Ula will be their next foes next Tuesday, January 20, at the Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Hall in Medina, Saudi Arabia - a must-win situation to boost their chances of advancing to the Final Phase.
"We explained to them that this is a do-or-die game," Coach Hatem Mamlouk said. "We had to win it. There was no other option. We didn't want what happened last season, when the qualification slipped away from our hands."
Mosti Rashed starred in the W with 29 points on 50-percent shooting, highlighted by 5 triples, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal in a big bounce-back personally after going scoreless against Kuwait the last time out.
The deadshot guard scored 10 in just the second chapter alone to lead his side to a 38-27 lead, ensuring that they remained in control amid attempts by their UAE Basketball League counterparts to crawl back.
He was crucial in their strong windup as well, ending the game with a trey as Al Arabi finished the game with an 8-0 run to put the other team to sleep once and for all after the latter got to within 74-67 with 1:29 to go.
Rashed played all 40 minutes and netted an efficiency of 27 just like veteran big man Elmedin Kikanovic, who finished with 19 points and 8 rebounds as the tandem clicked once again while working side-by-side.
Dee Bost supplied 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 13 assists in a turnover-less performance as the many-time Basketball Champions League campaigner flexed his elite playmaking to turn in a solid WASL debut.
"Today's game was a must-win. Thankfully we managed to win it. Now, we just have to keep working hard for our next and final game," said Rashed, who accounted for nearly half of the team's 11 threes in the win.
Glenn Robinson led Sharjah with 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists as the former NBA veteran tried to carry the load offensively for a team that missed the services of star winger DeMarco Dickerson.
He did get some help with Ahmed Lateef and Mahmoud Alsawan providing 11 points apiece and with Kavell Bigby-Williams adding 10 points and 19 rebounds but their efforts weren't enough to chalk up another win.
Sharjah will look to stay alive when they face Kuwait Club at home next Tuesday as well.
FIBA