Bahrain U18s crowned Gulf basketball champions, Kuwait come third

MANAMA, Aug 25 (KUNA) -- Bahrain will play in the 2020 FIBA U18 Asian Championships, having been crowned champions of the Gulf Basketball Association (GBA) Qualifiers, alongside Saudi Arabia who finished second.
The hosts did so with an emphatic 112-49 triumph over the United Arab Emirates with Kuwait coming third in their first competitive outing since a close to three-year sports ban was lifted last year.
The Kuwaitis were defeated, 46-65, by Saudi Arabia after a two-game winning streak, with their only other loss coming against the hosts in the opening game.
Their performance, in spite of the odds against them after such a lengthy ban, was praised by Kuwait Basketball Federation President Rasheed Al-Enezi.
The competition did much to give the squad an opportunity for much-needed competitive experience, and he vowed that the federation were working to build a "strong team" able to compete in the future. (end) hmd.sd