Al-Riyadi Crowned Asian Basketball Champions
Lebanese basketball team al-Riyadi won the 2011 FIBA Asian Champions Cup Sunday in their final match against two-time winner Mahram of Iran.
Fadi al-Khatib, al-Riyadi’s hero, came up with a pivotal performance, contributing 41 points to the 91-82 victory.
Al-Riyadi opened the game with a 7-3 run to grab the lead.
The Lebanese team maintained possession well throughout the starting quarter and recorded a 17-14 lead after ten minutes.
But Mahram’s Samad Nikkhah stepped up for Mahram in the second period, unleashing 19 points in the quarter to give Mahram a 39-38 lead at halftime.
The teams traded baskets throughout close third term.
The lead changed hands several times before Mahram sealed the outcome at 58-57.
Al-Riyadi’s Khatib and Jean Abdul Nour knocked down a pair of three-pointers early in the final frame to put al-Riyadi in front.
Mahram’s Hamed Afagh and Cheikh Samb attempted to level things up but Khatib ensured a 6-point advantage for the Lebanese team with just over two minutes remaining.
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