Action from Qatar Basketball League yesterday at Al Gharafa Indoor Hall. Al Shamal beat Qatar SC 88-82 and Al Wakra beat Al Rayyan 60-59.
By Danotzki Santos
DOHA: Al Wakra’s Temi Soyebo erased Al Rayyan’s 59-57 lead at the buzzer with three straight conversions to lift Wakra to their second upset win in the Qatar Basketball League.
Al Wakra escaped with a 60-59 win last night, and their third in 12 outings.
Al Wakra battled Al Rayyan toe-to-toe in the second period as Ayeni Olatukombo started to catch fire and lifted his team back from a first quarter deficit to a momentary 30-29 lead with 2:30 left in the period.
Al Rayyan then drew four straight points from team captain Yasheen Mousa plus a split from the charity lane from ace import Boney Watson to regain upper hand, 34-30, at halftime.
Big man Temi Wale picked up 6 points off his efforts in the paint and Ayeni added 7 markers to push Al Wakra ahead, 43-36, with 2:30 to go in the third, before Targuy Ngombo scored on a couple of jumpers from inside to narrow the gap at 43-40.
Ayeni and company would not give up at this point and unwrapped a 12-5 last stand to inch closer, 58-57, unto the dying seconds of ball game.
Meanwhile, Al Shamal edged Qatar Sports Club, 88-82 in the other day’s match yesterday at Al Gharafa Inddor Hall.
THE PENINSULA
