KUWAIT: The preliminary matches of the 16th Gulf Basketball Championship will conclude today with a match between Qatar and UAE at 5:00 pm followed by a match between Kuwait and Bahrain.

Saudi team tops the table with 5 points after 3 matches, followed by Bahrain with 4 after two matches, UAE 4 after 3 matches, then Kuwait with 3 points from two matches and finally Qatar with 2 points from two matches.

The UAE-Qatar match is expected to be very strong bearing in mind UAE's strong performance against Kuwait, restoring hopes to reach the semi final, while Qatar seeks to restore its usual image and get into competition once again.

The Kuwait-Bahrain match will be so important because it will decide Kuwait's qualification to the next round, and it will be very difficult because of the strength of the Bahrain team.
Meanwhile the GCC Basketball organizing committee decided to change the time of the champion clubs tournament in Qatar from mid April to 29th May until 6th June as a preliminary suggestion in waiting for the Asian Federation approval.

On his part Chairman of the Committee UAE's Abdellatif Al-Fardan said a meeting will be held with the Asian Federation Secretary General to approve the final day for the GCC Clubs date.
Kuwait's representative in the organizing committee Thamer Al-Shanfa thanked committee members for agreeing to change the date of the clubs championship.

By Abdellatif Sharaa