By Sports Reporter/Doha
Despite strong performances by Adamu Saaka and Calvin Cage, Al Wakrah could not begin their Qatar Basketball League campaign with a win. Saaka scored a match high 33 points, while Cage dunked 28 points, as Wakrah went down to El Jaish 89-111 at Al Gharafa Sports Club yesterday.
For Jaish, Shawn Taggart was the leading scorer with 28 points. Taggart dunked 11 two-pointers and six free-throws, apart from snapping up 14 rebounds.
Jaish consistently scored 26-29 points every quarter, with 28 points coming in the last quarter.
Despite trailing throughout the game, Wakrah came close in the third quarter when they had managed to bring down the deficit to four at 61-65. However, their scoring dipped and they were only able to score 11 points in the last quarter.
Jaish’s Vernon Macklin and Alioune Ndoye scored 20 points each while Fadi Abilmona and Kelvin Parker pitched in with 12 points apiece.
Other players to get into double figures for Wakrah were Mohamed Ouiri (14) and Donald Rashad (10).
Earlier yesterday, Kevin Rogers (22) and Mansour Elhadary (18) combined well for 40 points as Al Arabi beat Al Khor 70-59. Drago Pasalic scored 14 points for the eventual winners. For Khor, Shavon Coleman top-scored with 25 points, while Kevin Bridgewaters and Emanuel Willis pitched in with 16 and 15 points respectively.
Khor went into the second quarter leading at 15-11, but then on could not do much to force a win.
Tomorrow, Al Rayyan will take on Qatar Sports Club in the 5pm match, while Al Ahli will face off with Al Gharafa at 7pm.
Al Wakrah’s Adamu Saaka (left) in action against El Jaish during their Qatar Basketball League match at Al Gharafa Sports Club yesterday. PICTURE: Oth
