Bahrain squad named for qualifiers preps

TDT | Manama                                                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain head coach Ricard Casas has named 17 players on his initial squad that have begun their preparations for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers.

The Bahrainis will be playing their first two games in qualification later this month. Competing in Group F, the nationals will first host the UAE at home on February 23, before taking on Lebanon on February 26 in Beirut.

The national team roster includes Ali Hussain, Ali Jaber, Mohammed Ameer, Maithaim Jameel, Subah Hussain, Ali Aqeel, Ali Shukrallah, Mohammed Juma’a, Alwatheq Ali, Abdulqader Saleh Thani, Abbas Jameel, Murtadha Salman, Mohammed Buallay, Noman Ahmed, Basel Adel, Mustafa Hussain and Wayne Chism. Bahrain’s qualifying group also includes Syria, whom they only play for the first time in November later this year.

There are 24 participating nationals teams divided into six groups of four nations each for this first stage of qualification. These squads will vie for just 16 places at the final tournament. Games are being played over three windows, the first being held this month, the next in November, and then again in February of 2025.

The top two teams of each group qualify for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 while the six thirdplaced teams will play another qualifying tournament for the final four places. Group A includes Thailand, Australia, South Korea and Indonesia. Group B features Chinese-Taipei, Hong Kong, the Philippines and New Zealand; while Group C comprises China, Guam, Japan and Mongolia. In Group D are Iraq, Jordan, Palestine and Saudi Arabia; and Group E are Iran, Kazakhstan, India and Qatar.

The FIBA Asia Cup is the continent’s premier basketball tournament, including teams from FIBA Asia as well as from FIBA Oceania. Australia are the twotime defending champions. Bahrain are looking to qualify for the event for the 10th time.

Bahrain Basketball Association national teams committee chairman Mohammed Al Ajmi met with the national team during their first training session held at Zain Basketball Arena in Um Al Hassam.

Prior to the qualifiers, the nationals are scheduled to also play in the Qatar International Basketball Championship, taking place February 15 to 18 at Lusail Sports Arena in Doha. Bahrain are one of six national teams in the event, the others being hosts Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Central African Republic.