Manama Set for Arab Challenge
Manama departed for Beirut ahead of the 2026 Ellington Properties Arab Men’s Club Basketball Championship, which tips off in Lebanon on Friday.
The Bahraini representatives are among 12 teams competing in the 38th edition of the tournament, which runs until October 20.
Led by head coach Salman Ramadhan, the capital club have been drawn in Group A alongside Lebanese sides Sagesse and Central Club, Syria’s Al Ahli Aleppo, Oman’s Al Seeb and Qatar’s Al Rayyan.
Manama begin their campaign against Sagesse on Saturday at 9.30pm before facing Al Rayyan the following day at 7pm.
They then take on Al Ahli Aleppo next Tuesday at 2pm and Al Seeb on Wednesday at 7pm, before completing their group-stage campaign against Central Club next Friday at 4.30pm.
Ramadhan will be without Mohamed Yaqoob Buallay and Ali Jaber Alhaddad, who suffered injuries during Manama’s 84-67 victory over Sitra in their opening game of the 2026-2027 Zain Bahrain Basketball League.
The team’s foreign professionals are expected to link up with the squad directly in Beirut, with their identities set to be announced ahead of the tournament.
Group B features Qatar’s Al Arabi, Lebanese clubs Hoops and Beirut, Kuwait’s Al Sulaibikhat, Yemen’s Shaab Hadramout and Syria’s Homs Al Fidaa.
Each team will play five matches in a single round-robin format, with the top four from each group advancing to the quarter-finals.
The last eight will be played on October 18 following a rest day, with the group winners facing the fourth-placed team from the opposite pool and the runners-up meeting the third-placed sides.
The semi-finals are scheduled for October 19, with the final taking place the following day.
