DOHA: Raffa Anthony yesterday sparkled with 28 points as basketball giants Al Sadd drew first blood in the Qatar Basketball League (QBL) play-offs series with a win over Al Gharafa.
In another match yesterday, basketball powerhouse Al Rayyan edged El Jaish 69-67 to open the play-offs series with a hard-fought win.
In the opening clash of the evening, Anthony also managed a couple of assists to help Al Sadd sail to 73-66 win at Al Gharafa Indoor Hall yesterday.
Anthony’s team-mate Kone Mohamed Deba chipped in with 18 points and an assist as Al Sadd - coached by Zoran Kreckovic - fought with purpose in the tense clash.
Abdi Khalid Suliman also reached double figures when he produced a tally of 15 points and had 2 assists.
Saeed Erfan Ali with 8 points and 3 assists was the other main scorer for Al Sadd who trailed in the second quarter but picked up momentum in the third by leading 53-50.
For Koussay Hatem-coached Al Gharafa, Adako Emmanuel Osaro scored 25 points and managed an assist to round up a good performance in losing cause.
Galloway Kevin Dwayne scored 19 points and had 5 assists as Al Gharafa failed to spark in the final quarter clinched by Al Sadd. Ndoye Hassino was the third Al Gharafa player to reach the double figures when he scored 13 points. Hassino had 3 assists also. Saad Abdulrahman Mohamed (5) scored 5 points.
In the second clash, Al Rayyan relied on the team work of Davon James Dominic and Ngombo Tanguy Alban to beat El Jaish, coached by Dragoslav Milovanovic. Dominic scored 24 points and managed 4 assists while Alban produced a tally of 20 points and an assist to lift Al Rayyan past El Jaish.
After a cagey start to the game, Abdulla Malek Salem also played well for Al Rayyan by scoring 13 points. Salem had 3 assists also as only three Al Rayyan players - coached by Koufos Stergios - reached double figures.
For El Jaish, Macklin Vernon Leon sparkled with 26 points though his team trailed in all the four quarters.
Leon was well supported by Mohmmed Mohd Yousuf who scored 17 points and had one assist. Monroe Jr II Sammy produced a tally of 12 points besides managing 8 assists. Ali Ali Turki scored 8 points for El Jaish.
In the coming games on February 20, El Jaish will take on Al Rayyan while Al Sadd face Al Gharafa at Al Gharafa Indoor Hall.
The Peninsula
