3x3 Heartbreak for Bahrain After Bronze Loss

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s men’s 3x3 basketball team came agonizingly close to a medal at the sixth Islamic Solidarity Games, but ended their campaign in fourth place after a 17–15 loss to Qatar in the bronze medal match at Sports Boulevard. The team had earlier lost 21–18 to Iran in the semifinals, just missing out on a shot at gold.

Against Iran, the match started with a flurry of points from both sides. Milos Supica struck early, followed by Bogdan Dragovic, keeping Bahrain close as Alireza Sharifi and Piter Girgoorian pushed Iran ahead. Supica hit a free throw, while Dragovic answered with successive baskets, and Sayed Mohamed Kadhem kept the scoreline tight. The lead swung back and forth in the final minutes, but Iran edged ahead with a pair of long-range shots to seal a 21–18 win.

In the bronze medal match against Qatar, Bahrain again started strongly. Dragovic scored consecutively, with Supica converting multiple one-point attempts and Buallay adding a timely basket to give Bahrain an early edge. Qatar fought back through Dejan Janjic and Nedim Muslic, matching Bahrain point for point. In the closing stages, Bahrain trailed by just one or two points, but missed opportunities and crucial free throws from Qatar sealed the game 17–15.

Though the team missed out on a podium finish, Bahrain’s performance across the tournament highlighted their competitive spirit and teamwork, keeping the matches close against some of the region’s strongest 3x3 sides. Egypt ultimately claimed gold after a 21–14 victory over Iran, but Bahrain’s campaign offered a glimpse of their growing capability in the sport.