Cup Quest Begins as Muharraq Defend Crown

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

The quarter-finals of the 10th edition of the Khalifa bin Salman Basketball Cup tip off on Saturday, February 28, at the Bahrain Basketball Association Hall in Umm Al Hassam, launching the knockout phase of one of the Kingdom’s premier domestic competitions.

All eyes will once again be on defending champions Muharraq, who return to the tournament looking to build on last year’s memorable triumph. The Red Wolves captured the 2025 title with a 89–86 victory over Manama in the final at Khalifa Sports City. The occasion carried added significance, coinciding with the FIBA Congress and Hall of Fame ceremony and attended by FIBA President Shaikh Saud bin Ali Al Thani, highlighting Bahrain’s growing stature on the international basketball stage. The trophy was presented by HH Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, capping a landmark night for the club and the sport locally.

That triumph now sets the stage for a fresh campaign. Muharraq, who currently top the Zain Bahrain Basketball League standings with 13 wins from 14 games, have been placed at the head of Group A and will face Second Division runners-up Sitra in the quarter-finals. Manama, last season’s runners-up and sitting second in the league with nine wins and five losses, headline Group B and take on Second Division champions Al Ittihad in a matchup charged with ambition and redemption.

The remaining quarter-final ties promise intrigue as the league picture continues to take shape. Third-placed Al Najma, with eight wins from 14 games, will meet the sixth-placed First Division team, a spot to be decided between Al Hala and Al Nuwaidrat following the conclusion of Round 15 of the league campaign. Al Ahli, currently fourth with seven wins and seven losses, will face the fifth-placed side, which will also be determined between Al Hala and Al Nuwaidrat once the final standings are confirmed.

As in previous editions, the professional regulations remain unchanged. Teams may register two foreign professionals on the match roster, though only one is permitted on the court at any given time, adding a tactical layer to squad rotations and late-game management.

Looking ahead, the semi-finals will be contested in a best-of-three format at Khalifa Sports Hall, with the first team to secure two victories advancing to the final. The title itself will be decided in a single winner-takes-all showdown, where one performance will determine the identity of the 10th edition champions.

Organised annually by the Bahrain Basketball Association, the tournament has steadily grown in stature over the years. Al Ahli lifted the fourth edition crown in 2020, while Riffa claimed the title in 2019. With Muharraq defending their crown and Manama aiming to go one better, the stage is set for another compelling chapter in Bahrain’s basketball season.