Al-Qadsiya player controls the ball as Al-Ittihad looks on.

JEDDAH, March 17: Al-Qadsiya faces a pivotal challenge tonight as they take on Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad at 10:00 pm in Jeddah. This marks the second encounter between the two teams in the AFC West Basketball League playoffs for the Gulf region, with both sides vying for a spot in the final round.

In their first matchup in Kuwait, Al-Qadsiya secured a commanding 82-69 victory.

Under the tournament’s playoff format, the first team to win two out of three games advances. Should Al-Ittihad emerge victorious tonight, a decisive third match will be held in Kuwait on March 25.

Riding the momentum of three consecutive wins against Al-Ittihad this season, Al-Qadsiya aims to seal its place in the final with a fourth triumph. American head coach, Anthony Stebbing, is banking on a mix of talented local and professional players to deliver another strong performance.

Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad, led by head coach Slobodan Subotic and assistant Abdullah Hejazi, is in a must-win situation to keep its playoff hopes alive. Backed by its passionate home crowd, it will rely on key players to shift the balance in its favor and force a deciding game.

In other basketball action, Kuwait Club dominated Al-Yarmouk 122-46 victory in the second division of the Youth League (merger). This win boosted Al-Abyad’s total points to 21, while Al-Yarmouk stands at 13. Additionally, Al-Sulaibikhat edged out Al-Nasr 109-93, raising its tally to 15 points, while Al-Nasr sits at 16.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff