Beirut Club and the UAE national basketball team faced off on February 1 in the semi-finals of the Dubai championship. After a hard-fought start to the game and the Lebanese gaining momentum in the second quarter, Beirut Club won with authority 94-71 to book their place in the final.
Coach Jad el-Hajj fielded his main five: Sergio Darwish, Ali Haidar, Ali Mezher, Ricky Ledo and Kenneth Kadji. Having eliminated Sagesse, the other Lebanese representative in the competition, Beirut Club needed to confirm their form if they were to have any hope of reaching the final.
The match began at a measured pace, with both teams neutralizing each other in the first quarter, which ended with a slight advantage for the Emirates (19-18).
The Turning Point of the Match
In the second quarter, the Lebanese stepped up their pressure, causing their opponents to make mistakes. This strategy paid off, allowing Beirut Club to extend their lead. But at the end of the first half, the Emirates national team reacted and reduced the Lebanese lead to five points (41-36).
The third quarter was the key moment of the match. Thanks to aggressive defense and effective outside play, Beirut Club took the lead, increasing its advantage to 22 points. The team then masterfully managed their advantage in the final quarter, sealing victory 94-71.
On Course for the Final
Thanks to this convincing success, Beirut Club have booked their place in the final, where they will face either the Strong Group or the Tunisian national team on Sunday at 5 PM Beirut time.
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