QAT – Gharafa take on Ahli; Arabi match wits with Rayyan

DOHA (QBF Emir Cup) - Al Rayyan completed the semi-final line-up for the 2011 QBF Emir Cup with a clinical, confident and comprehensive 81-74 win over Al Jeysh Army in a Group 1 Preliminary round game on Monday.

The result means 2011 QBF league champions Rayyan will be pitted against 2008 GCC champions Al Arabi - who beat Al Ahli 81-76 on Sunday to take top spot in Group 2 - in the semi-finals.

The other last four clash will feature Ahli against defending Emir Cup champions and 2011 Heir Apparent Cup champions Al Gharafa, who took the top spot in Group 1 despite a 64-54 defeat at the hands of Qatar Club on Monday.

In another game, of no consequence to the rest of the competition, Al Wakrah posted their first – and which eventually will be the only – win of the season by beating Al Sadd 77-73.

The first two games of the best-of-five semi-finals will be played back-to-back on Wednesday and Thursday at the Gharafa.

Solid Rayyan

Rayyan left nothing to chance and right from the word go raced ahead into a 13-5 midway through the opening period and never lost control.

Targuy Ngombo (pictured) was his usual reliable self on both ends of the floor, compiling 16 points and 10 rebounds while American Chauncey Leslie led Rayyan’s scoring with 18 points.

Terrence Leather chipped in with 16 points of his own and veteran Yasseen Ismail added 14 points.

Army got good scoring from Sheikh Ahmed and Grimes Jackson, who had 22 and 20 respectively, but Babikr Marouni was the team's only other player to score in double-digits with 12.

Arabi top Group 2

Meanwhile, Michael Cuffee went for 24 points, eight rebounds and three assists to lead Al Arabi in their win over Al Ahli to clinch top honours in Group 2.

Elhagi Doudou had 17 points, while Ehison Sauda and Matthew Burston added 15 points each, the latter also hauling in 12 rebounds.

Arabi trailed 19-16 at the end of the first quarter, but fought back in style to take charge of the proceedings, going up 47-34 at halftime and not looking back thereafter.

Bob Saintprux’ game-high 26 points for Ahli went in vain. Ricky Clemons had 24 points and Manyacka Eyoum finished with 18 points and nine rebounds.

Relaxed Gharafa

With their place in the semi-finals and top spot in Group 1 already assured, Gharafa were relaxed as they went into their game against Qatar Club.

Coach Koussay Hatem used the game to rest his starters, playing his substitutes for much of the game

No Gharafa player scored in double-digit, but McLean was the only player not to score among the 11 Gharafa players who took to the court.

Adrian Joseph was the highest scorer for Qatar Club with 15 points. Gaston Moliva had 13.

Wakrah’s first win

Wakrah and Sadd were involved in a battle of academic interest, but became significant when the former prevailed for their only win of the season in all competitions.

Sadd, who had finished runners-up in the two earlier tournaments, showed flashes of brilliance early in the second quarter.
But Wakrah seemed more determined than ever to finish the season with at least a win, after having lost all 14 games of their QBF league games to go with three defeats in as many games in the Heir Apparent Cup.

Soelhaj Abdou was Wakrah’s hero on the night with 23 points and nine rebounds. Sultan Muftah, Darren Kelly and Soleymane Ndour each scored 15 points apiece.

Michael Bell had the consolation of a game-high 32 points for Sadd. Yousif Mohamed had 18 points.

Emir Cup Group Standings

Group 1
Al Gharafa 2-1   
Al Rayyan 2-1
Al Jeysh Army 1-2
Qatar Club 1-2

Group 2
Al Arabi 3-0
Al Ahli 2-1
Al Wakrah 1-2
Al Sadd 0-3

Semi-final pairings
Al Gharafa v Ahli
Arabi v Rayyan

FIBA Asia