Mixed day for Oman teams at Arab 3x3 basketball youth meet

Muscat: The opening day of Arab 3x3 Basketball Youth Championship at Al Mouj Muscat was a mixed bag for the hosts as Oman girls tasted success while the boys suffered loss.

Oman U18 girls (Team A) claiming a well-deserved 14–4 victory over Kuwait, while the U18 boys (Team A) lost to Kuwait 18-9.

It was a commanding performance by Oman girls in their opening match, despite Kuwait drawing first blood through Shaikha Al Dakhil. Oman quickly regrouped, and Lamar Al Saeed levelled the score after a series of well-structured offensive plays.

Lamar returned to add another point, but Kuwait equalised through Maryam Al Marri from a free throw. From that moment forward, Oman took complete control of the match.

Malak Al Sulaymi scored twice in quick succession, followed by another accurate finish from Lamar to make it 5–2. Malak continued her superb form, adding two more points, while Lamar and her teammates extended the lead through fast-paced transitions and strong defensive pressure, taking the score to 10–2.

Oman maintained full momentum, Lamar scoring the 11th point and Malak adding another, before both teams traded baskets in the final minute as the host girls sealed a confident 14–4 victory.

However, the Oman boys' couldn't repeat the heroics of the girls as they stumbled after a fast start in their opening encounter.

Oman started their match strongly, taking an early lead through Mishal Kafkaf, followed by a point from Azzan Al Ajmi, before Kafkaf added two more points to put Oman ahead 4–0.

Kuwait gradually worked their way back into the game. Omeir Asadallah scored Kuwait’s first point, followed by two points from Ahmed Al Rasheed, narrowing the gap to 4–3. Capitalising on Oman’s brief loss of focus, Mohammed Al Shammari equalised for Kuwait and put them ahead for the first time. A free throw extended Kuwait’s lead, before Oman’s Azzan Al Ajmi pulled one back.

However, Kuwait maintained their momentum, adding three more points to make it 10–6, then stretching the lead to 13–6 as Oman struggled with missed opportunities and loss of rhythm. Despite more scoring efforts from Azzan, Kuwait continued to widen the gap and secured a deserved 18–9 victory.

In the other match in boys' section, Qatar A defeated Lebanon in a thriller, winning 14-12.

Earlier, Khalfan bin Saleh Al Naabi, Chairman of the Oman Basketball Association, expressed his delight on hosting of the championship. He said: "We warmly welcome all Arab and Gulf teams participating in both the Arab and Gulf 3x3 Championships here at Al Mouj Muscat. Hosting these tournaments for the second consecutive year reflects Oman’s growing reputation as a venue for major sporting events."

He added: Opting to host at Al Mouj Muscat, an open-air venue, allowed for broader public engagement, further supporting the federation’s efforts to promote 3x3 basketball by hosting it in accessible public spaces."
The championship, hosted by the Oman Basketball Association (OBA) in cooperation with the Arab Basketball Federation, attracting an open crowd of visitors and fans.

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