source: FIBA Asia | fibaasia.net
DOHA - Hosts Al Rayyan of Qatar began their campaign to regain their title in a convincing manner, beating Iraq's Duhok 88-66 in a Group A preliminary round game on Saturday.
"It is always good to start any tournament with a win. The margin of victory is immaterial," said Al Rayyan coach Carl Nash.
"It's matter of how well we get used to the new balls. It is a huge factor in a tough and short tournament like this," said Yasseen Ismail Musa, Rayyan's spearhead of many years.
Nash surely would have been pleased with his locals playing a tremendous role in the opening game win.
Musa led from the front, by example with a double-double -- 15 points and 12
rebounds as also three assists.
Erfan Saeed, Musa's long standing partner in Rayyan, as also the Qatari National Team contributed as many points as Musa.
Saeed also collected seven rebounds to go with his staggering game-high 13 assists.
Ali Ali, the third of the Qatari triumvirate who have carried the National Team's fortunes for a decade or so, scored 12 points and collected six boards, all in defense.
American imports Michael Fey and Cory Bradford justified their induction.
Fey went 9/14 in field attempts and led the scoring for the team with 20 points. Bradford scored 10, but had six assists and four rebounds.
Duhok too had their imports playing their part.
Priest Lauderdale, a member of the Mahram team that won the gold medal at Jakarta last year, led the scoring for the game with 24 points.
Lauderdale's American countrymate Calvin Cage returned 22 points.
Rayyan line up against Smart Gilas of Philippines on Sunday after Duhok would have played Astana Tigers.
Scores
Al Rayyan, QAT 88 (Michael Fey 20, Yasseen Ismail Musa 15, Erfan Saeed 15, Ali Ali 12) bt Duhok, IRQ 66 (Priest Lauderdale 24, Calvin Cage 22).
Quarters: 21-16, 40-31, 65-52.
(click here for complete game stats)
(click here for FIBA Asia Champions Cup Day 1 - Complete update)
note: for DAY 2 (May 23 / Sunday) Free Live Streaming will starts at 2pm Qatar time | 7pm Manila time (www.SmartGilas.com)
Day 2 - Games Sunday (Al-Gharafa Stadium, Doha)
2 pm (7pm Manila) — ASU-Jordan vs Al Nasr-UAE
4 pm (9pm Manila) — Duhok-Iraq vs Astana Tigers-Kazakhstan
6 pm (11pm Manila) — Smart-Gilas Philippines vs Al Rayyan-Qatar
8 pm (1am Manila)—Al-Hilal-Saudi Arabia vs Al Jalaa-Syria
(FREE PINOY TV, 24/7 AM-FM RADIO, FREE GAMES AND MORE!)
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Smart Gilas vs. Qatar tonight @ 11pm!! watch out FEY!
from Chris Tiu:
"Michael Fey, one of our prospective imports before, now playing for Qatar. Very consistent middle range jumper & can run d floor as well."
d ba c calvin cage naglaro na rin bilang import dito sa pba
@Anonymous = 10:42 AM
Calvin Cage- played in 2008 Fiesta Conference for Coca-Cola, played only one game at the Tigers before getting injured..
patay tayo jan kaya mga 20s ni fey hehe.. anyway, vucecivic all other american imports brought their A-game, later show them what euro basketball is all about. 12points 7rebs 3assts 15on&offball screens, 3elbows, 5looseball dives and a 100% in the freethrow line. no flash but all cash. goodluck gilas
Hindi na mauulit ni Fey ang magandang laro nya mamaya laban sa Smart Gilas. MARKADO na yan. Sana gamitin at maipakita rin ni VUCICIVEC ang pagiging isa nyang reliable at consistent na OFFENSIVE, SCORING player kung kakailangin.
GOOD LUCK SMART GILAS. ANG BUONG PILIPINAS AT ANG MGA OFWS AY PALAGING SUMUSOPORTA SA INYO.
WE'LL SUPPORT YOU HERE SG TEAM, WAG KAYONG KAKABAHAN SA KALABAN, SA NGAYON CLA KINAKABAHAN SA INYO HEHEHE!!!!.........
Hindi makakaporma ke Milan yan Fey na yan, Go Go Go Gilas!!! Laban lang... PILIPINAS.....AAAAAHHOOOOOO!!!!
kya ng SMART GILAS ang Qatar ngaun! KAHIT JAN PA C FEY, MALAKI DIN ANG IMPROVEMENT NI GREG. KAHIT WLANG IMPORT ANG GILAS KYA NILA,!!!(w.CASIO,WILLIAMS) ,, NOT LIKE NUNG NKLABAN NILA LAST GAME NILA SA DOHA., LABAN QATAR NATIONAL TEAM , NA LUMAMANG ANG SMART GILAS WITH 10 POINTS.! dba!?
Go Gilas ! sure mmya madaming manunuod laban HOME TEAM!!!
nuod ako , mya ~ puno na naman ang AL-Ghraffa!!!
based on the tournament last month from dubai, qatar shows really a strong team during that time without FEY, how much more now. But beleived SG is stronger...
di naman masyado magaling yang si fey na yan. normal lang.
good luck!!!kaya yan...11pm tonight sana di mag down ang stream sa dami ng manonood...hehe
Papatalo b tayo mga kababayan.... GO GO GO Smart Gilas we believe in you GUYS.... Mga kabayan sa Qatar pls support our team.... they need you guyss
Go. GO. GO. Smart Gilas, papatalo b tayo mga kabayan keep supporting Smart Gilas.. Mga kabayan sa Qatar, Smart Gilas need your full support sa game nila ngyn.. Good Luck Guys !!
go gilas!!