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Al Gharafa finished the domestic season on top and not even a credible performance by El Jaish could knock them down. |
Spates Ward led Gharafa to their third straight title this season, scoring 21 points in an 89-87 victory over Jaish in a tense Emir Cup basketball final yesterday.
“I am elated. It was a tough game for us and I am proud of my boys that they have lived up to the moment and finished a wonderful season on a high,” Gharafa coach Koussay al-Qhalaf said.
Earlier in the season, Gharafa had stamped their authority by winning the Qatar Basketball League and the Qatar Cup. With yesterday’s win, Gharafa became the second team after Al Rayyan to win the three titles -- Qatar League, Qatar Cup and Emir Cup -- in one season.
“It took everything we had as a team. When we were trailing at half-time, we all decided in the locker room that we have to make a comeback and we have to play like a champion to win it,” Larry Blair, who scored 18 points, and was adjudged as the best shooter, said after the match.
“Credit to El Jaish also, they’re an unbelievable team. This was the hardest game we ever had to play this season. But we’re a resilient team and we did whatever it took,” he added.
Blair made two three-pointers, defended Dwayne Jones, the best player of the tournament, when he had to, and did everything else that could ever be expected from a top player.
Gharafa made a nervous start in the tense final, with Jaish taking a 26-15 lead in the first quarter and later extending it to 49-36 at half-time.
“We were not in our elements in the first and the second quarters. We were under pressure at the start. Jaish is the only team to have scored almost 50 points against us by half-time this season. Everybody must have thought that my team is out of the competition, but they played superbly in the last quarter to emerge champions,” al-Qhalaf said.
Gharafa nursed a narrow lead for the first time in the game when Samuel Junior scored a three-pointer in the fourth quarter.
The tide turned in Gharafa’s favour when, with Jaish trailing by one point, Dwayne Jones missed two chances to score.
“We are very happy to win the Cup. It was a very difficult game for us. We played superbly throughout the season and won the three titles… it’s fantastic,” an elated Samuel Junior said.
For Jaish, who were playing their first Emir Cup final, Devan Downey and Shawn Taggart scored 19 points each. Johnson Nethaniel and Fadi Abilmona scored 18 and 17 points respectively.
“It was a very close match. But I am happy to win the Emir Cup. We have worked hard throughout the season and are very pleased to finish on top,” said Omar Salam, who chipped in with 16 points for the winners.