KUWAIT CITY, April 25: The Al-Qadisiya and Kazma basketball teams will face off in the decisive game of the league final at 8:00 PM in Al-Ittihad Hall, located within the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Indoor Hall Complex. This match marks the critical third encounter in the semifinals.
Kuwait Club secured its spot in the final, following the format of three potential matches, by defeating Al-Arabi. In the initial round, Kuwait Club triumphed 104-100, while Al-Arabi withdrew from the second match in protest against the refereeing.
Meanwhile, Al-Qadisiya bested Kazma 85-81, but Kazma retaliated with an 83-79 win in the second match, leading to this decisive showdown.
Expectations run high for an intense and competitive match between the “Yellow” and “Orange” teams. Notably, Al-Qadisiya has dominated their encounters this season, winning five out of six games against Kazma, who clinched only one victory.
Kazma enters the match buoyed by their recent success in securing third place in the West Asian Championship for the Gulf region, earning them a spot in the West and Central Continent finals.
Al-Qadisiya, absent from the league finals since 2018, aims to surpass its opponent and advance to the final. Meanwhile, Kazma seeks to demonstrate its status as Kuwait’s foremost challenger, aiming to dethrone Kuwait Club, the defending champion of the last five editions.
Under the guidance of American coach Anthony Stebbing, Al-Qadisiya relies on the skills of their American professionals Robert, Teran, and Tilmon, alongside Muhammad Ashkanani, Rashid Al-Rabah, and Abdul Mohsen Murtada. Kazma, led by Slovenian coach Bojan Lazic, looks to their American players Chapman, Leslie, and Love, supported by the experience of Ahmed Al-Balushi, Abdulaziz Al-Hamidi, and Youssef Bourahma.
Hassan Musa
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff