The Al-Ula basketball team continued its strong performances and consecutive victories, tightening its grip on the top spot in the Premier Basketball League , after achieving a wide and well-deserved victory over its counterpart Al-Nasr with a score of 98 points to 73 points, thus confirming its full readiness to compete for the title this season.
This highly anticipated match was the highlight of the eighth round of competition, held on Friday at the Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Sports City Hall in Medina. The game began cautiously and evenly, with the first quarter ending in a 13-13 tie, suggesting a tight and challenging contest. However, Al-Ula rallied in the second quarter, exploiting Al-Nasr's defensive weaknesses to secure a 44-31 lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, Al-Ula maintained their fast pace and widened the point gap, finishing the period with a score of 69-49, before concluding the game with a comfortable 25-point lead. This victory is a significant indicator of the remarkable progress Al-Ula is making, steadily progressing towards achieving a historic milestone in Saudi basketball. The team's technical and administrative stability has made them a formidable contender in this year's league.
In the other matches of the round, the same venue witnessed a clear victory for Al-Fateh over their rivals, Uhud, one of the traditional powerhouses of the game, with a score of 91 points to 69. Al-Fateh established their dominance early, finishing the first half with a comfortable lead of 47-27, and maintained this advantage until the final whistle.
In Jeddah, Al-Ahli sent a strong warning to its rivals with a resounding victory over Al-Salam, winning 111-62 in their match at Al-Ahli's home arena. The technical difference was evident from the first half, which Al-Ahli finished with a commanding 63-30 lead.
In the Eastern Province, Al-Ittihad secured a valuable victory against Al-Khaleej with a score of 68-55 in a match held at Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Sports City Hall in Qatif. Al-Ittihad finished the first half with a 39-20 lead. At the same venue, fans experienced a nail-biting derby as Mudhar snatched a dramatic and hard-fought 95-92 win over Al-Khawildiyah. Al-Khawildiyah had finished the first half ahead 47-42, but Mudhar's determination sealed the victory in the final seconds of the game, reflecting the intense competition and close levels of play in this season's league.
