Al Ittihad Arab Champions; First in Club's History
The Saudi Al Ittihad has won its first ever Arab Club Championship at the expense of the Egyptian Gezira 87-79 in front of capacity crowds estimated at more than 5000 spectators. Although Al Ittihad had won 4 GCC titles and became Asian champions in 2001, this is their first pan-Arab title. Meanwhile the third postion decider between Mouloudiyyat Wahran (Algeria) and Cafe Najjar (Lebanon) was interrupted as it was marred with physical violence and hooligan behavior. At the time of interruption, the result was equality 66-66.

Arab Basketball Club Championship Final:

Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) - Gezira (Egypt) 87-79

(Q1: 25-20  Q2: 42-41  Q3: 64-62   Q4: 87-79)

Although at the beginning Egyptian Gezira edged ahead 5-0, but Al Ittihad regained the initiative via God Shammgod, JR. Henderson,  Ali al Maghribi and Jaber al Shamrani to finish te quarter five points ahead. In the second quarter, Gezira rataliated and edged the gap and through three-pointers even sored ahead in the third through Mohamed  el Kerdani, Ahmed Sakr and Tarek el Ghannam. The war of attrition resulted in many equalities at 62-62, 64-64, and 66-66  But the solid Ittihad would eventually take over and open a 10 point gap 82-72 , finally finishing the game eight ahead 87-79.

It is worthwhile to note that Gezira was playing with an all-Egyptian roster and no foreign recruits whereas Saudi team had two American recruits (God Shammgod and JR Henderson). 

Third-Fourth Position Game:

Cafe Najjar (Lebanon) - Mouloudiyat Wahran (Algeria)

Suspended at 66-66:

In the 3rd-4th position decider immediately prior to the final between Al Ittihad and Gezira, ugly scenes led to the suspension of the game between the two teams Cafe Najjar and Mouloudiyyat Wahran. In the details, in a hotly contested match, the signs that it would not end well were all quite obvious with the physical play and constant protests. Although the Algerians had edged ahead by ten points in the third quarter, the Lebanese Cafe Najjar team caught up in the fourth closing the ten point gap into an equality 66-66, after denying Mouloudiyyat from scoring for full 5 minutes. The Algerians  were visibly frustrated and the whole atmosphere deteriorated.

The serious disturbances started however after Cafe Najjar's American player Ace Custis got a foul from an Algerian defender and was going to shoot the intentional foul decided by the referee. But before having time to do this, Ace Custis  was callously and without any provocation on his part physically attacked by two of the Algerian players and Custis was injured. Then says Cafe Najjar's vice-president Antoine Zoghbi in an exclusive comunication with "An Nahar " newspaper,  the administrators of the Algerian side as well as players joined and intensified the fight using chairs and sharp objects. The two Polish referees suspended the game, but the physical violence ran out of control  between the two sides as it became a free-for-all where everybody jumped in, main players, bench players and administrators. There are reports that injuries inflicted on Cafe Najjar American player Stephen Howard are even more serious than those suffered by Ace Custis. The Saudi security forces intervened and Cafe Najjar withdrew to the dressing room. When they came out to continue the game, the Polish referees had already declared both sides ineligible to continue and held both teams defeated.

The Arab Basketball Federation and organizing committee disqualified both teams and the third position has been barred from both teams. The federation is contemplating further punitive measures to put an end, once and for all, to such utter hooligan behavior on court in many games. These measures will be announced after studying the details of the incidence and the report of the two referees.

Awards:

MVP: God Shammgod (Al Ittihad)

Top scorer: God Shammgod (Al Ittihad)

Top three point shooter: God Shammgod (Al Ittihad)

Best Arab player: Ali al Maghribi (Al Ittihad)

Ideal team: Gezira (Egypt)

  Arab Final to be Between Al Ittihad Jeddah and Gezira

The semi finals of the 17th Arab Club Basketball Championship were as follows:

Semi-final 1: Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) - Cafe Najjar (Lebanon) 76-75

(Q1: 22-17  Q2: 40-40  Q3: 57-55  Q4: 76-75)

A narrow game where half-time finished in 40-40. The game was also one of tactical changes and nerves as both coaches changed their set-up. The Saudi coach Felton Sealey deoended no only on God Shammgod and J.R. Henderson (206-F-76, college: UCLA) but also on Abdel Mohsen al Marwani under the basket and Jaber al Shamrani and Muhammad Mubayreek. On Cafe Najjar side Stephen Howard, Ace Custis and Yasser el Hajj. The game was tight throughout and fought point by point. Ten second before the end, Cafe Najjar edged ahead 75-73 as Saudi Ali al Maghribi fouled out. Howver Al Ittihad's JR Henderson scored the crucial basket and the free throw for Al Ittihad to win by one point 76-75. Best scorer for Al Ittihad: JR Henderson 21 and for Cafe Najjar Stephen Howard 24.

The game was marred by continuous protests by the Lebanese side on the level of refereeing. Cafe Najjar also objected to the using of American God Shammgod on the roster of Al Ittihad Jeddah. 

Semi-final 2: Gezira (Egypt) - Mouloudiyat Wahran (Algeria) 87-70

(Half time score 36-23)

The outcome of the game was a huge surprise particularly as it ended with such a big margin. The Algerian side was playing nervously and its players visibly effected by the close guard of Saudi defenders on key players like Farjallah Harouni, Ameen ben Ramadane This was the first loss for the Algerian side.

Program of the last day:

Final: Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) vs Gezira (Egypt)

Game for 3rd and 4th positions: Cafe Najjar (Lebanon) vs Mouloudiyyat Wahran (Algeria)

Game for 5th and 6th positions: Al Jeish Army (Syria) vs Al Ittihad as Sakanadary (Egypt)

The deciding of positions 5 and 6 is equally important as the Top 5 teams from the Arab Basketball Championship will automatically qualify to the Arab-European International Basketball Tournament. This event is a first in what is seen as an excellent opportunity given to Arab basketball clubs for international experience outside the context of Asian and African championships.

The Arab Basketball Federation Approves the Superleague:

The Arab Basketball Federation and coinciding with the holding of the pan-Arab Championship in Jeddah held a high-level meeting presided by the President of the Federation Prince Talal ben Badr and presence of FIBA President Carl Men Ky Ching  and a number of heads of various basketball federation from the Arab countries on  approving the proposed Lebanese-Syrian-Jordanian Basketball Superleague, The papers report that FIBA President Carl Men Ky Ching understood and in principal welcomed the establishment of this league provided the Lebanese, Syrian and Jordanian Basketball Federations officially approached FIBA through the proper channels as soon as possible for getting the approval from FIBA. The Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) had mostly opposed this Lebanese-Syrian-Jordanian Superleague till now. But the Superleague has always enjoyed the clear backing of the Arab Basketball Federation. Hopefully with the intervention of FIBA, the ghighest world body in basketball, these hurdles may be circumvented and the Superleague can start in earnest real soon.

The Arab Basketball Federation also discusses case of Arab players with dual nationality

The general meeting also discussed the problems facing many Arab basketball players resident of European countries who are facing considerable difficulties in qualifying for inclusion in their own original Arab national basketball programs even after due naturalization. This is the case in particular in case of Al Maghreb countries (mainly Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia), countries that have considerable expatriate communities in Europe, but who are unable to use their own players in the national teams on various legal pretexts. This comes in the wake of a number of French-Algerian players being barred from playing for Algeria in various national events. The basketball naturalization committee is backing these countries in their campaign to ease the restrictions on those players who want to return home for inclusion in the national side. Those basketball players who even nominally play in the name of France or included in any context in European national programs are already prohibited from playing for their own countries under any circumstances.

  Semis: Al Ittihad vs Najjar and Mouloudiyyat vs Gezira
Round 2 games of the 17th Arab Basketball Champonhship has resulted in the elimination of Al Ittihad as Sakandary (Egypt) and Al Jeish (Syria) and the deciding of the semi final match-ups that will face Lebanese Najjar with local hosts Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) on the one hand and Mouloudiyyat Wahran (Algeria) against Gezira (Egypt) on the other. Al Jeish (Syria) and Al Ittihad as Sakandary (Egypt) will play for 5th and 6th positions.

In final day of Round 2,

In Group A: Mouloudiyyat Wahran (Algeria) - Cafe Najjar (Lebanon) 84-71

This is the first loss of the Lebanese team in the championship and makes their overal record 3-1, whereas Algerains are defeatless 5-0.

In Group B: Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) - Gezira (Egypt) 20-0

In a bizzare twist, the Gezira team attended with jersey colors that was considered illiegal for the game. The referees gave the Egyptians enough time to arrange for alternative color jerseys, but the Egyptians abstained and forfeited the game. This is a first in the games. All teams should have ready jerseys in case of objections, but the Egyptians didn't. As an additional penalty, Gezira were also not awarded one point for the loss, but still qualified because of their two points against Al Jeish.

Final classification: Round 2:

Group 1:

1. Mouloudiyat Wahran (Algeria)   2-0    163-137  + 26  4 points

2. Cafe Najjar (Lebanon)               1-1     159-170  - 11   3 points

3. Al Ittihad as Sakandary (Egypt)   0-2    152--167  -15   2 points

Group 2:

1. Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)            2-0     121-88   + 33   4 points

2. Gezira (Egypt)                            1-1      96-113  -  17   2 points  (0 point from forfeited game)

3. Al Jeish Army (Syria)                   0-2    181-197    -16  2 points

  Day 2 of Round 2: Both Al Jeish and Al Ittihad as Sakandary Out
Al Ittihad as Sakandary, present Arab title holders and theSyrian Al jeish Army team have both been thrown out of contention as they suffered their second staright losses in Round 2. So the teams that will play the semi-finals wil be Cafe Najjar (Lebanon) and Mouloudiyyat Wahran from Group A and Gezira (Egypt) and hosts Al Ittihad (saudi Arabia) from Group B. 

However the semi-final match-ups will not be clear except after the games between Cafe Najjar and Mouloudiyya Wahran game on the one side and the Gezira Al Ittihad game on the other.

Today's results:

Group A: Cafe Najjar (Lebanon) - Al Ittihad as Sakandary 88-86

Group B: Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) - Al Jeish (Syria) 101-88

Classification:

Group 1:

1. Mouloudiyat Wahran (Algeria)   1-0     79-66  + 13

2. Cafe Najjar (Lebanon)                1-0     88-86  +   2

3. Al Ittihad as Sakandary (Egypt)   0-2  152--167  -15

Group 2:

1. Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)            1-0     101-88   + 13

2. Gezira (Egypt)                            1-0       96-93   +  3   

3. Al Jeish Army (Syria)                   0-2    181-197    -16 

  Round 2: Mouloudiyya and Gezira Wins
Round 2 of the Arab Club Basketball Championships have started with the 6 teams divided into 2 groups. The top 2 of each group will qualify with the first of Group A facing second of Group B and vice versa for the semi-finals

Results:

Group A:

Mouloudiyyat Wahran (Algeria) - Al Ittiuhad as Sakandary (Egypt) 79-66 (half-time 41-39)

Best players in Mouloudiyyat Wahran: Sofiane Boulaya, Abdelhalim Sayeh, Badr Sawwan, Harouni

Group B:

Gezira (Egypt) - Al Jeish Army (Syria) 96-93 (half time 42-42

Classification:

Group 1:

1. Mouloudiyat Wahran (Algeria)   1-0  79-66  + 13

2. Cafe Najjar (Lebanon)               0-0    0-0

3. Al Ittihad as Sakandary (Egypt) 0-1  66-79  -13

Group 2:

1. Gezira (Egypt)                            1-0  96-93   +3

2. Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)              0-0   0-0   

3. Al Jeish Army (Syria)                  0-1 93-96    -3 

Program Saturday May 22, 2004:

Group A: Cafe Najjar (Lebanon) vs Al Ittihad as Sakandary (Egypt)

Group B: Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) vs Al Jeish Army (Syria)  

  Cafe Najjar Over Ittihad and Jeish Over Al Ittihad as Sakandary - May 20, 2004 - by Eurobasket
The last day of the games of the initial round had the following results:

Group A: Cafe Najjar (Lebanon) - Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) 105-84 (hald time 58-44)

in a very impresssive show of force by Cafe Najjar who ended 4th overall in Lebanon against Saudi champions Al Ittihad

Group B: Al Jeish Army (Syria) - Al Ittihad as Sakanadary (Egypt) 90-81 (half time 50-48)

Two games remain, but have no consequence on the qualifiyting sides:

In Group B: Al Hala (Bahrain) meets Al Ahli Sanaa (Yemen)

In Group C: Ohod (Saudi Arabia) meets MAS Fes (Morocco)

Tables of Round 1 in the three groups look as follows with the top teams decided:

Group A (4 teams):

Wadadiyat al Jamarek never showed up

1. Cafe Najjar (Lebanon) 2-0

2. Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)  1-1

3. Al Olympi (Sudan)  0-2

Group B (4 teams):

1. Al Jeish Army (Syria) 3-0

2. Al Ittihad as Sakandary (Egypt) 2-1

3. Al Hala (Bahrain)  0-2

4. Al Ahli Sanaa (Yemen)  0-2

Group C (5 teams):

Services (Palestine)  never showed up and is considered withdrawn

1. Mouloudiya Wahran (Algeria)  3-0 

2. Gezira (Egypt)  2-1

3. Ohod (Saudi Arabia)  0-2

4. MAS Fes (Morocco)  0-2

Match-ups:

Group 1: Cafe Najjar (Lebanon), Al Ittihad as Sakandary (Egypt) and Mouloudiyyat Wahran (Algeria)

Group 2: Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia), Al Jeish (Syria) and Gezira (Egypt)

  End of Round 1: Leaders Cafe Najjar, Syrian Al Jeish and Mouloudiya Wahran
In the last day of round 1 of the Arab Basketball Club Championship in Jedah, two games were held to decide on the final positions of the tables, but without any consequence on top teams are semi-final groups

Group B: Al Hala (Bahrian) - Al Ahli Sanaa (Yemen) 111-101

Group C: MAS Fes (Morocco) - Ohod (Saudi Arabia) 87-79

Tables of Round 1 in the three groups look as follows with the top teams decided:

Group A (4 teams):

Wadadiyat al Jamarek never showed up

1. Cafe Najjar                      Lebanon           2-0  4 points

2. Al Ittihad                         Saudi Arabia     1-1  3 points

3. Al Olympi                        Sudan               0-2  2 points

Group B (4 teams):

1. Al Jeish Army                  Syria                  3-0  6 points

2. Al Ittihad as Sakandary    Egypt                 2-1  5 points

3. Al Hala                            Bahrain              1-2  4 points

4. Al Ahli Sanaa                  Yemen               0-3  3 points

Group C (5 teams):

Services (Palestine)  never showed up and is considered withdrawn

1. Mouloudiya Wahran         Algeria               3-0  6 points

2. Gezira                              Egypt                  2-1  5 points

3. MAS Fes                          Morocco              1-2  4 points

4. Ohod                               Saudi Arabia       0-3  3 points

New Group Match-ups:

Group A: Cafe Najjar (Lebanon), Al Ittihad as Sakandary (Egypt) and Mouloudiyyat Wahran (Algeria)

Group B: Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia), Al Jeish (Syria) and Gezira (Egypt)

New Program of games in Round 2:

Friday May 21, 2004:

(Group B) Al Jeish Army (Syria) vs Gezira (Egypt)

(Group A) Mouloudiyat Wahran (Algeria) vs Al Ittihad as Sakandary

Saturday May 22, 2004:

(Group A) Cafe Najjar (Lebanon) vs Al Ittihad as Sakandary (Egypt)

(Group B) Al Jeish Army (Syria) vs Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)

Sunday May 23, 2004

(Group B): Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) vs Gezira (Egypt)

(Group A): Cafe Najjar (Lebanon) - Mouloudiyyat Wahran (Algeria)

  Arab Championship: Cafe Najjar Over Ittihad and Jeish Over Al Ittihad as Sakandary
The last day of the games of the initial round had the following results:

Group A: Cafe Najjar (Lebanon) - Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) 105-84 (hald time 58-44)

in a very impresssive show of force by Cafe Najjar who ended 4th overall in Lebanon against Saudi champions Al Ittihad

Group B: Al Jeish Army (Syria) - Al Ittihad as Sakanadary (Egypt) 90-81 (half time 50-48)

Two games remain, but have no consequence on the qualifiyting sides:

In Group B: Al Hala (Bahrain) meets Al Ahli Sanaa (Yemen)

In Group C: Ohod (Saudi Arabia) meets MAS Fes (Morocco)

Tables of Round 1 in the three groups look as follows with the top teams decided:

Group A (4 teams):

Wadadiyat al Jamarek never showed up

1. Cafe Najjar (Lebanon) 2-0

2. Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)  1-1

3. Al Olympi (Sudan)  0-2

Group B (4 teams):

1. Al Jeish Army (Syria) 3-0

2. Al Ittihad as Sakandary (Egypt) 2-1

3. Al Hala (Bahrain)  0-2

4. Al Ahli Sanaa (Yemen)  0-2

Group C (5 teams):

Services (Palestine)  never showed up and is considered withdrawn

1. Mouloudiya Wahran (Algeria)  3-0 

2. Gezira (Egypt)  2-1

3. Ohod (Saudi Arabia)  0-2

4. MAS Fes (Morocco)  0-2

Match-ups:

Group 1: Cafe Najjar (Lebanon), Al Ittihad as Sakandary (Egypt) and Mouloudiyyat Wahran (Algeria)

Group 2: Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia), Al Jeish (Syria) and Gezira (Egypt)

  Arab Clubs - Day 4: Final 6 Picture Already Quite Clear
Although there is one more day left for the initial round of the 17th Arab Basketball Club Championship in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), the Final 6 teams qualifying for next round are almost certainly known from amongst all the 11 teams actually participating. Although it is not clear who is the head of each division as yet, Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) and Cafe Najjar (Lebanon) from Group A, Al Ittihad as Sakandary (Egypt) and Al Jeish (Syria) from Group B and Mouloudiyat Wahran (Algeria) and Gezira (Egypt) from Group C. Al Olympi (Sudan), Al Hala (Bahrain), MAS Fes (Morocco), Ohod (Saudi Arabia), Al Ahli Sanaa (Yemen) are out of contention and Wadadiyat al Jamarek (Mauritania) and Services (Palestine) have officially withdrawn as they didn't arrive to the games.

Results of Day 4 were as follows:  

Cafe Najjar (Lebanon) - Al Olympi (Sudan)  87-68.

Al Jeish Army (Syria) - Al Hala (Bahrain) 81-79 in a very close game

Mouloudiyyat Wahran (Algeria) - Ohod (Saudi Arabia) 77-37 (first half 37-23)

Gezira (Egypt) - MAS Fes (Morocco) Result not in yet.

Day 5 games (Teusday May 18, 2004)

Group A: Cafe Najjar (Lebanon)  will meet hosts Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) and winner will top the group and loser be runners up

Group B: Al Ittihad as Sakandary (Egypt) will meet Syrian Al Jeish with winner leading the group and loser becoming runner up

Group C: Ohod (Saudi Arabia) will meet NAS Fes (Morocco) but regardless of outcome both teams are out of contention already as Algeria's Mouloudiyat Wahran has finished top and A and Egyptian Gezira have finished 2nd.

Now for two new sub-groups:

Group 1: First of Group A, 2nd of Group B and First of group C (i.e Mouloudiyat Wahran - Akgeria)

Group 2: 2nd of Group A, first of Group B and second of group C (i.e. Gezira- Egypt)