Hala Hold Nerves to Secure Premier Division Survival

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

Al Hala secured their place in next season’s Zain Bahrain Basketball League premier division on Tuesday night, edging Sitra 96-86 in a tense, winner-takes-all third game of the relegation play-off at Khalifa Sports City.

The result capped a dramatic series: Hala took the first leg 107-102 last Friday, only for Sitra to respond with a 104-92 victory on Monday, setting the stage for the decisive clash. From the outset, Hala imposed themselves physically, taking a 22-17 lead after the first quarter. Despite this, Sitra’s talisman Austin Ajukwa continued to shine, scoring 22 points in the first half alone, as Hala’s defenders repeatedly double- and triple-teamed him to try to contain his threat.

Late in the second quarter, Ali Mohsen briefly gave Sitra the lead, but Elijah Alon Love Robinson, who had signed and arrived just hours before the game, calmly sank two free throws to give Hala a 45-44 advantage at halftime. His instant impact set the tone for Hala’s composed performance in the second half.

After the restart, Sitra surged into a six-point lead midway through the third quarter, following a Mohsen three-pointer. Yet Hala steadily wrested control back, with Ahmed Bindayneh’s fast-break lay-up opening a 72-65 advantage. Sitra fought back to narrow the gap to two points heading into the final period, keeping the decider finely balanced.

In the fourth quarter, Bindayneh delivered nine of his 20 points, including a five-point burst that restored Hala’s lead. Elijah Love remained instrumental, while a contested three-pointer with just over two minutes remaining effectively sealed the game. Love finished with 32 points, Abdulqader Thani added 25, Bindayneh contributed 20, and Nader Shaker chipped in 12 off the bench.

For Sitra, Ajukwa ended with 38 points on 10-of-29 shooting, while Mohsen and Dhaif Husain Dhaif added 19 and 15 points, respectively. Ultimately, Hala’s defensive discipline and timely scoring under pressure proved decisive, confirming their return to the premier division for 2026-27, while Sitra will remain in the second tier next season.