Manama Holds Off Nuwaidrat Comeback

Nowrooz stars as Manama stretches lead; Ettihad wins 81–72

Bahrain basketball fans were treated to an action-packed doubleheader last night in the Zain Basketball League, with Premier League leaders Manama edging Nuwaidrat 86–83 and Al Ettihad defeating Al Bahrain 81–72 in a League B match.

Manama’s clash with Nuwaidrat proved to be a closely contested matchup. The home side jumped out to a 45–37 halftime lead, fueled by sharp shooting from Hasan Nowrooz and Ahmed Salman, but Nuwaidrat refused to fold. Midway through the third quarter, points from Hassan Abbas and Emran Hasan drew the visitors level, setting the stage for a tense final period. The quarter-by-quarter scores read: Nuwaidrat 15/19, Manama 18/30, Nuwaidrat 22/23, Nuwaidrat 19/23.

In the closing minutes, Manama’s experience and composure made the difference. Layups from Quinton Rose and timely free throws from Nowrooz and Ali Jaber kept the home side ahead, while Subah Hussain’s defensive presence and energy off the bench helped them withstand Nuwaidrat’s relentless push. Ahmed Salman led all scorers with 26 points, Nowrooz added 21, and both Sabah Hussein and Imran Ghazi contributed 14 points each. Nuwaidrat’s efforts were led by Rosi with 25 points, Murtadha Salman with 15, and Hassan Abbas with 14, but their late rally fell just short. With the win, Manama extended their winning streak to four games, bringing their total points to six, while Nuwaidrat now sits on five points after one win and three losses.

Earlier in the evening, Al Ettihad controlled their League B clash against Al Bahrain from start to finish, gradually building a comfortable lead through balanced offense and disciplined defense. Dcarius Brooks led Al Bahrain with 18 points, including six of 11 from inside the arc, while Ali Baqer added 17 points, including three key three-pointers. For Al Ettihad, Romeo Enan dominated the boards with 20 rebounds alongside 15 points, supported by Mohamed Ghazwan’s 13 points and Fadhel Abdulelah’s 18. In the final minutes, Al Ettihad stayed composed at the free-throw line and capitalized on second-chance opportunities, securing a well-earned win.