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Dubai: Al Wasl finished fourth in the GCC Clubs' Basketball Championships held in Doha from April 24-30. Al Wasl lost the third-place playoff match to Al Rayan of Qatar 113-69.
Al Wasl were top favourites to win the title after the excellent form they showed last year when they were runner up.
"The match against Al Qadsia of Kuwait in the semifinals, which we lost by a five-point difference (87-82), resulted in our exit from the tournament. That defeat denied us a chance of reaching the final and winning the title for the first time in our club's history," said Khalifa Al Shaiba, the Al Wasl skipper, after returning from Doha.
Al Wasl began powerfully in Group B, winning all three matches against Al Arabi of Kuwait 94-68, Al Arabi of Qatar 71-67 (Al Arabi eventually won the title, beating Al Qadsia of Kuwait in the final) and Al Ahli of Bahrain 79-69.
'Quick rebounds'
"Al Qadsia, who beat us in the semis, were not a strong team. But the only thing they did well and which helped them win was the quick rebounds they created from which they scored several points. Moreover, some of our players were not fit enough and that cost us dear when we met the Kuwaiti club," Al Shaiba said.
Al Wasl will play in yet another foreign tournament when they turn up at the 19th Asian Clubs' Championship in Kuwait on Thursday. Al Wasl will feature in Group B, along with defending champions Saba Battery (Iran), ONGC (India), Al Qadsia (Kuwait) and Harbor Snetr (Philippines).
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