Muharraq Dominate Al Najma to Stay Top

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

Muharraq reinforced their Zain Basketball League lead yesterday, beating Al Najma 86-67 at Um Al Hassam Arena in Gameweek 8. The victory keeps the defending champions unbeaten this season, extending their record to seven wins from seven games and cementing their status as the team to beat.

From the opening tip, Muharraq set the tone. Wayne Chism won the jump ball and delivered alley-oop dunks and layups, while Mahmood Abbas Isa and Bader Abdulla added quick points. Nader Ali’s sharp perimeter shooting helped the champions take a 25-8 lead by the end of the first quarter.

Al Najma struggled to respond. Ahmed Aldurazi and Donovan Smith contributed with free throws, layups, and a three-pointer, but they could not match Muharraq’s pace. By halftime, the lead had grown to 50-25, with Kerwin Roach and Chism orchestrating fast breaks and Ali continuing his three-point barrage.

The third quarter saw Al Najma fight back with inside plays, but Muharraq’s balanced attack and efficient ball movement kept the deficit double digits, peaking at 28 points. Roach, Chism, and Ali combined for threes, drives, and assists, while Al Najma relied on Smith’s rebounds and Aldurazi’s scoring to stay in touch.

In the fourth, Al Najma trimmed the lead to 19 with late threes, but Muharraq closed out the game strongly. Nader Ali led all scorers with 21 points, Chism added 19 points and eight rebounds, and Roach contributed 18 points with seven assists. For Al Najma, Aldurazi scored 18, Smith added 16 points with 13 rebounds, and Ahmed Najaf contributed 14 points.

Muharraq’s defensive intensity produced 13 steals and 27 assists, reflecting their depth and cohesion. Al Najma struggled with turnovers and could not match the champions’ efficiency, leaving Muharraq atop the standings with a perfect 7-0 record, while Al Najma remain fourth on 9 points.