UAE Basketball Team Advances Closer to Quarterfinals of Arab Championship

The UAE national basketball team defied all expectations in the 25th Arab Basketball Championship currently hosted in Egypt, by achieving a historic victory over their Moroccan rivals—strong contenders for a top spot—with a score of 82/84. The match has been notable so far with its strange twists; the Moroccan team held control of the game from the start until midway through the third quarter, extending their lead to 22 points. Suddenly, the UAE team transformed into a different side, both defensively and offensively, benefiting from the guidance of their coach, Dr. Munir Bin Habib, who emphasized defensive discipline and reducing offensive errors. They managed to take the lead for the first time by a single point in the last minute and twenty seconds, maintaining their advantage until the final whistle. Rising star Hamid Abdel-Latif played a significant role in the outcome, scoring 30 points, which is the highest score recorded so far in the tournament. The results of the quarters were as follows: 20/18, 21/10, and 22/30 in favor of the Moroccan team, while the UAE had 11/27 in the last quarter. The UAE team made 12 three-point shots, recorded 35 rebounds (21 defensive and 22 offensive), 13 assists, and 8 steals, while Morocco had 8 three-pointers, 46 rebounds, 18 assists, and 8 steals.