UAE face Algeria in the Arab Championship quarter-finals
After beating Morocco and Kuwait in Cairo, the national team meets Algeria in the last eight of the 25th Arab Championship.
The national team meets Algeria today (Monday) in the quarter-finals of the 25th Arab Basketball Championship, being played at the indoor halls complex of Cairo International Stadium. The UAE finished third in a demanding Group B behind Egypt and Tunisia after a very strong showing, beating both Morocco and Kuwait having lost its opener to hosts Egypt.
The Kuwait game swung through all four quarters and nearly slipped away, particularly in the second and third. The UAE controlled the first quarter and closed it 32-22, but Kuwait punished defensive errors and rushed offence to take the second 26-16 and level the half at 48-48. Kuwait stayed ahead through the third at 69-63 before the UAE cut out the mistakes and took the fourth 24-14, and the match 87-83.
Technical director Dr Mounir Ben Habib praised the team's fighting spirit, especially in the final quarter: “The defensive errors dropped in that quarter, particularly in the last five minutes, along with pressure on the ball handler and stopping Kuwait from driving and shooting from distance.”
On today's game he added: “Algeria has real standing in Arab and African basketball and the result is hard to predict. I hope our players repeat the level they showed against Morocco and Kuwait, with those two wins over big teams.”
