source: FIBA Asia | fibaasia.net
DOHA - Lebanese popular powerhouse Al Riyadi Beirut began slow, grew steadily, but finished strong to post a 87-77 win over fellow West Asian team Al Jalaa of Syria in a Group preliminary round game on Saturday.
Al Riyadi, thus avenged the 107-112 Overtime loss they had suffered at Al Jalaa's hands in the WABA Champions Cup at Tehran in March.
Having exchanged equally in moves as well as in scoring in the first two quarters, at the end of both of which they trailed by two points, Al Riyadi made their move early in the second half.
Nate Johnson combined in tandem with Fadi El Khatib, the latter on a loan from Champville, as Al Riyadi reeled off the first eight points of the third quarter, moving from a 36-38 deficit to a 44-38 lead.
A position from where they never looked back.
"Guess we did too many mistakes early," said Al Riyadi coach Fouad Abouchakra.
"But things began to fall in place well enough as the game progressed," he added.
El Khatib who had only four points to show for his presence on the court in the first half, added 23 more to share the scoring honors for the game with Johnson at 27 points.
Johnson's American compatriot 'CJ' Giles had a better all-round show, with the first double-double of the tournament.
'CJ' returned 15 points and as many boards for the first double-double in the tournament.
"We were coming off a very tiring season," Al Jalaa coach Mansur Bajramovic said.
"Only a couple of days ago, we finished the Syrian league. And we lost in a hard-fought finals," the Bosnian added.
"Therefore, we are yet recovering physically as well as mentally."
"We knew they are tired," said Abouchakra said.
"But I think our players took it for granted for too long," he added.
"I just asked them to stop giving the gifts, at the start of the second half. And we recovered rather well," he added.
Garnett Thomson justified his 'import' status for Al Jalaa with 21 points and 12 boards.
Al Riyadi have the Sunday off before taking on Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal on Monday. Al Jalaa play Al Hilal on Sunday.
Scores:
Al Riyadi Beirut, LIB 87 (Nate Johnson 27, Fadi El Khatib 27, CJ Giles 15)
Al Jalaa, SYR 77 (Garnett Thomson 21, Micheal Madanly 17, Chudley Gray 12).
Quarters: 17-19, 36-38, 62-52.
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"Fadi El Khatib, the latter on a loan from Champville"... BUTI PA SA LEBANON, HINDI NA PINAHIHIRAPAN ANG PROSESO SA PAG LOAN NG PLAYER KYA NA-REINFORCE NI KHATIB ANG AL RIYADI. DITO SA ATIN, GNAGAWANG COMPLICATED PA, PA IMPORTANTE PA ITONG INGGIT NA PBA, PWEDE NAMAN GAWING SIMPLE GUSTO LANG NG BOARD NILA, KYA WALANG ASENSO.
CJ giles 15pts... lets see vs. gilas
japeth u r assigned to defend fadi el khatib, he can do nothing with ur presence... slam him off the score board.... hehehehe....
yeah the last time they faced each other in Dubai Japeth was the one who guarded El Khatib.