BASKETBALL – THE stage is set for the highly-anticipated final of the 2025-26 Khalifa Bin Salman Cup, taking place tomorrow between holders Muharraq and perennial contenders Manama.
The game is scheduled for a 7pm tip-off at Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town.
Muharraq will be looking to retain the prestigious trophy they lifted last season and equal the record of three titles, currently shared by Manama and Al Ahli.
The contest will be the fifth meeting between the two sides this season. They played each other thrice in the premier division of the 2025-26 Zain Bahrain Basketball League, and once in the 2025 Bahrain Super Cup.
Muharraq triumphed all four times – most recently with a massive 97-61 rout in league action. In the other games, Muharraq won 79-66, 77-61, and 76-71.
Both teams secured their places in the championship decider with two-game sweeps of their best-of-three semi-final series, each of which concluded last week.
Muharraq won against Ahli while Manama overcame Al Najma.
The Khalifa Bin Salman Cup is one of the most prestigious basketball tournaments organised annually by the Bahrain Basketball Association.
Aside from the two crowns won by Muharraq and three apiece by Manama and Ahli, Riffa were also crowned tournament champions in past editions.
Heading into tomorrow’s contest, Muharraq are the favourites. Coached by German tactician Peter Schomers, Muharraq boast arguably the most talented Bahraini contingent in the kingdom, led by skipper Bader Abdulla Malabes, and including Mohammed Ameer, Mahmood Abbas Isa, Mohammed Juma’a, Younes Kowayed, Nader Ali, Ali Hussain, and Wayne Chism, among others. They also have a formidable professional pairing in Nick West and Kris Clyburn, boosting their deep roster.
Manama, on the other hand, are guided by veteran Bahraini coach Salman Ramadhan, who was at the helm of the kingdom’s senior men’s national team in the past. Manama too have a strong line-up of local talent, composed of court general Ahmed Salman, Ali Jaber, Mohammed Buallay and Hasan Nowrooz. Their imports are Alex Young and Romeo Enan.
Manama, however, will be missing the services of inspirational power forward Subah Hussain, who suffered a serious injury in their semis clinching win against Najma as he was battling for a rebound.
Aside from this season’s Khalifa Bin Salman Cup, Muharraq and Manama are also the top two teams heading into the Golden Square semi-finals of the 2025-26 Zain Bahrain Basketball League.
There, their match-ups in the Khalifa Bin Salman Cup final four are to be repeated, with Muharraq taking on Ahli and Manama locking horns with Al Najma once again. Each series will be played in best-of-five format, and they will both tip off on Thursday later this week.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh