Qatar Beat Saudi Arabia in Gulf Basketball Tournament

Manama, October 01 (QNA) - Qatar started their Gulf title defence on a winning note, beating Saudi Arabia 66-60 in their opening game at the Zain Bahrain Basketball Arena in Um Al Hassa on Monday. The side, coached by American Thomas Wisman, was on a high after finishing third in the FIBA Asia Cup inTokyo recently. The return of captain Yasseen Moussa, who was out with an injury, considerably boosted the team s morale. Clinton Fihnoir Johnson, who did the star turn inTokyo, once again excelled as Qatar raced to a 43-31 lead at half-time. But the Saudi Arabians, three-time champions themselves, came back strongly in the second half. However, Qatari players kept their cool to triumph. Qatar will take on the UAE on Wednesday, before facingOman on Thursday and Bahrain on Saturday. Kuwait did not field a team at the event.(QNA)