Al-Sulaibikhat and Kazma players challenge for the ball.

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 31: Sulaibikhat Club made a strong start to the 62nd basketball league by securing 85-75 victory over Kazma at the Union Hall in the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Complex. In the day's other match, Al-Arabi defeated Al-Yarmouk 85-66, with the winners receiving two points and the losers one.

Under the guidance of Fahad Burjas, Al-Sulaibikhat delivered a solid performance against Kazma, one of Kuwait’s leading basketball teams, coached by Montenegrin Igor Jovovich. Al-Sulaibikhat, also known as the "Red of the North," set the pace early on, leading the first quarter by three points (16-13) and extending its lead to 35-32 by halftime, thanks in part to the impressive play of American import Mickey Dixon, who scored 30 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

Kazma rallied in the third quarter, with contributions from Abdulrahman and Saho Al-Saho, both recent transfers from Kuwait, but Al-Sulaibikhat's high energy and strong teamwork allowed them to maintain a 57-47 lead going into the final quarter. The last quarter was action-packed, with each team scoring 28 points, sealing Al-Sulaibikhat’s well-deserved victory and marking the first upset of the league.

The first round of the league, which includes nine teams, continues this evening with two matches: last season's cup champion Al-Qadsiya faces Al-Tadamon at 5:00 pm at the Ittihad Hall, followed by Al-Qurain vs. Al-Nasr at 7:30 pm in the same venue.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff