In this file photo Al-Qadsiya player goes for basket as Kuwait Club player

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 23: The 10th edition of the Super Basketball Cup will take place this evening at the Union Hall in Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Indoor Halls Complex. The highly anticipated match features league champion Kuwait Club and Cup champion Al-Qadsiya, scheduled to tip off at 7:00 pm.

The Super Basketball Cup, first held in 2011, returned in 2016 after a five-year hiatus. Kuwait Club has dominated the tournament, winning eight titles, while Kazma claimed the championship once, two seasons ago.

Kuwait Club aims to maintain its dominance and secure yet another title, while Al-Qadisiya seeks to etch its name among the Super Cup champions. Al-Qadisiya is buoyed by its resurgence, having won the Federation Cup last season.

Both teams have undergone rigorous preparations. Kuwait Club held a training camp in the UAE, participated in the Al-Wahda International Championship, and began competing in the Asian Super League. Al-Qadsiya prepared with a camp in Serbia, followed by appearances in the Arab Clubs Championship and the Asian Super League.

Al-Qadsiya will field a complete squad, with key players Saleh Al-Yousef, Abdullah Tawfiq, and Nasser Al-Hijris returning. In contrast, Kuwait Club faces the absence of Ali Al-Hudhud and Mohammed Adnan due to injuries, though the rest of the team is in top form.

Al-Qadsiya's American coach, Anthony Stebbing, will rely on his three American professionals—Elono, Green, and Croatian player Zebic—alongside Mohammed Ashkanani, Abdul Mohsen Murtada, and Abdulaziz Al-Hamidi. Meanwhile, Kuwait Club’s  German coach, Peter Schomers, will depend on his trio of American players—Augustine, Jakar, and Robert Beer—as well as Hamad Adnan, Turki Hamoud, Alexander Al-Ghais, and Hussein Al-Khabbaz.

Adding to the evening's excitement, the match will mark the retirement of Abdullah Al-Sarraf, one of Kuwait Club’s basketball legends, under the patronage of former Al-Qadsiya Club President Fawaz Al-Hasawi.

Al-Sarraf is widely regarded as one of the finest players in Kuwait's basketball history. He played a pivotal role in Al-Qadsiya’s numerous local and Gulf title wins and represented Kuwait in various international championships. His career also included professional stints in Gulf countries and a notable experience in China.

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff