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The United Arab Emirates national basketball team has advanced to the final of the 35th Dubai International Basketball Championship after defeating Libya’s Al-Ittihad 97-96 in a thrilling semifinal match. The game took place at the Rashid bin Hamdan Hall at Al Nasr Club in Dubai, where the UAE squad secured a dramatic victory despite missing four key starting players.
The UAE team competed without Qais Omar, Hamed Abdullatif, Omar Khaled, and Washington, who joined Shabab Al-Ahli ahead of their West Asian Super League match against Qatar’s Al-Arabi scheduled for the following Tuesday. Despite these significant absences, the national team delivered what has been described as one of their most important performances in the tournament’s history against a Libyan squad featuring high-caliber players and coached by the renowned Fuad Abu Shaqra.
Historic Victory in Dubai Basketball Championship
The Dubai Basketball Championship semifinal concluded with quarter scores of 21-24, 26-29, 24-22, and 26-21 in favor of the UAE. The match remained competitive until the final moments, with Al-Ittihad holding a 96-94 lead shortly before the buzzer. However, a clutch three-pointer by DeMarco reversed the outcome, giving the UAE their most significant victory in Dubai International Basketball Championship history.
According to reports, this marks the sixth consecutive win for the UAE team without a single loss, achieving this perfect record for the first time in the tournament. Additionally, head coach Dr. Mounir Ben Lahbib became the first coach to lead the UAE national team to the prestigious final, demonstrating exceptional tactical skills throughout the contest.
Quarter-by-Quarter Battle
The opening quarter saw both teams evenly matched defensively and offensively, with Libya’s Al-Ittihad ending the period with a narrow 24-21 advantage. In the second quarter, Al-Ittihad extended their lead to 45-34 with four minutes remaining after the UAE squad missed several easy scoring opportunities. However, the national team reduced the deficit to 53-47 by halftime.
The third quarter featured multiple lead changes, with the teams tied at 58-58 and 60-60 before the UAE took a 62-60 advantage. Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad responded with three-pointers to build an 81-74 lead heading into the final period. The fourth quarter showcased what observers called exceptional Emirati performance, with all players contributing to the comeback victory.
Defending Champions Eliminated
In the second semifinal match, defending champion Beirut from Lebanon was eliminated from the Dubai Basketball Championship after losing 62-71 to Tunisia’s Africain. The competitive game saw both teams alternating control across quarters, with Africain dominating the first and third quarters 27-17 and 12-7 respectively. In contrast, Beirut won the second and fourth quarters 21-17 and 17-15, but fell short of advancing to the final.
UAE Faces Africain in Championship Final
The victory sets up a final showdown between the UAE national team and Tunisia’s Africain in the Dubai International Basketball Championship. This achievement represents a milestone for Emirati basketball, particularly given the team’s ability to overcome the absence of multiple starters and maintain an undefeated record throughout the tournament.
The championship match is expected to take place following the conclusion of the semifinals, though the exact date and time have not been confirmed by tournament organizers. The UAE team will seek to capture their first Dubai International Basketball Championship title under the guidance of coach Ben Lahbib.
