DOHA: Despite trailing for most of the title clash, Al Gharafa yesterday relied on a feisty show late in the fourth quarter against El Jaish to win the Emir Cup title.
Playing on home venue, Al Gharafa won 89-87 for what was their third major trophy in the 2013-14 season. Earlier this season, Al Gharafa won the National League title followed by the Qatar Cup trophy.
Coached by Qusay Al Khalaf, Al Gharafa trailed El Jaish for most part of the final but yet managed to find that extra effort to nail their third major triumph this season.
Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) President Sheikh Saoud bin Abuldrahman Al Thani presented medals and trophy to Al Gharafa players at Al Gharafa Indoor Hall. The final was also watched by Turgay Demirel, chief of Turkish Basketball federation.
El Jaish, coached by Serbia’s Dragoslav Milovanovic, hit the ground running, reeling off easy points against Al Gharafa.
The second period ended with El Jaish leading 49-36 in the tense final. The third period ended with El Jaish holding on to their lead 64-58 before Al Gharafa turned the tide in the last quarter.
For Al Gharafa, Eugene Ward scored 21 points while Downey Devan and Taggart Shawn scored 19 each for El Jaish. In the semi-finals, Al Gharafa beat Al Sadd while El Jaish had the better of Al Rayyan to reach yesterday’s title clash. THE PENINSULA
