DOHA : Oman and Bahrain opened their FIBA U18 Asia Cup Gulf Qualifiers campaigns with victories on Saturday to move to the top of the standings after the opening day of the six-team tournament in Doha.
Oman overturned an 11-point halftime deficit to beat Kuwait 62-59, while Bahrain defeated Saudi Arabia 62-54 after pulling away in the second half.
Kuwait dominated the opening game early, taking a 22-13 first-quarter lead before extending their advantage to 40-29 at halftime.
Oman responded after the break, reducing the deficit by winning the third quarter 16-14 before outscoring Kuwait 17-5 in the final period to complete the comeback and claim their first victory of the tournament.
Bahrain also recovered from a halftime deadlock to secure victory over Saudi Arabia.
After racing into a 16-6 lead in the opening quarter, Bahrain saw Saudi Arabia respond with a 20-8 second-quarter run to level the scores at the interval.
Bahrain regained control in the third quarter, outscoring Saudi Arabia 21-11 before the teams shared the fourth period 17-17, sealing an eight-point win.
Following the opening round, Oman and Bahrain lead the standings with two points each, while Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have one point apiece.
The tournament continues on Sunday with Bahrain taking on Kuwait before hosts Qatar begin their campaign against Saudi Arabia.
The six-day competition serves as the Gulf qualifying tournament for the 2026 FIBA U18 Asia Cup in Ahmedabad, India. The top three teams will qualify for the continental championship, where four berths at the 2027 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in the Czech Republic will be available.
Qatar is hosting the event as part of its preparations for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which will be the first edition of the tournament staged in the Middle East and North Africa.
