By Hussain Almaskati. Bahrain's historic run at the FIBA U16 Asia Cup came to conclusion on Sunday, as they narrowly lost 105-103 to Chinese Taipei in the 7th–8th place classification game at the MBank Arena. Despite the heartbreak, the result confirmed Bahrain's first-ever top-eight continental
Bahrain’s historic run at the FIBA U16 Asia Cup came to conclusion on Sunday, as they narrowly lost 105-103 to Chinese Taipei in the 7th–8th place classification game at the MBank Arena. Despite the heartbreak, the result confirmed Bahrain’s first-ever top-eight continental finish, capping an extraordinary year for the young team.
Hassan Oshobuge Abdulkadir once again carried Bahrain, posting 24 points, 18 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals in another all-around display. He was matched against Chinese Taipei’s I-Le Wang, who top-scored for his team with 18 points and hit the game-winning three-pointer in the final seconds.
Somto Patrick Onoduenyi, returning after three games out, added 2 blocks and provided interior presence that nearly swung momentum Bahrain’s way.
The game saw wild swings of momentum — Chinese Taipei led by as many as 14 points, while Bahrain held an 11-point advantage during their furious third-quarter rally. Ultimately, eight lead changes and a clutch final possession decided the outcome.
The match was witnessed by a modest crowd of 35 fans in Ulaanbaatar.
Quarter Scores
Q1: Chinese Taipei 27–23 Bahrain
Q2: Chinese Taipei 29–24 Bahrain
Q3: Bahrain 34–25 Chinese Taipei
Q4: Chinese Taipei 24–22 Bahrain
Tournament Journey
Bahrain’s 8th-place finish represents their best FIBA Asia Cup campaign in over a decade. Their journey included:
- Group phase: 141–47 loss to Australia; 70–68 win vs Lebanon; 111–80 win vs India
- Quarterfinal Qualifier: 79–66 win vs Philippines (clinching a top-eight spot)
- Quarterfinal: 84–69 loss vs three-time champions China
- Classification Round: 95–62 loss vs Iran; 105–103 loss vs Chinese Taipei
Despite the final two defeats, Bahrain’s progress was undeniable. They finished 8th out of 44 countries, alongside their regional titles in 2025 — winning both the Gulf Championship (undefeated) and the Arab Championship in Cairo.
