Al Manama Repeat as Bahrain League Champs

Bahrain League  Al Manama capped off an impressive 2017-18 campaign by capturing the 2018 Bahrain League Championship. They defeated Al-Ahli 88-78 in Game 4 of the Premier League finals. Al Manama was a dominant force throughout the regular season, finishing 2017-18 atop of the standings with an impressive 23-1 record. So it comes as no surprise that the club would be able to defend the crown they claimed in 2017. This is the fifth overall league championship for the organization, with the first being claimed in 2001. With this repeat performance, they are poised to set up a dynasty and being the most imposing team in the league in recent times.

They had a balanced attack and some unselfish play allowed them to overcome a game-high 27-point explosion from Al-Ahli’s Loren Woods. Al Manama tallied 30 assists in Game 4, compared 21 from Al-Ahli. Wayne Chism and Yunes Kawaid led the charge with 15 points apiece.

Their dominance on the glass with a 42-33 rebounding advantage allowed some key second-chance points as well as the ability to retain control the tempo of the game.

Will Al Manama make it a three-peat come 2019? It will be a sight to see. They have the momentum and it’s up to the rest of the league to catch up and make adjustments to stop or slow them down.

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