MANAMA, Bahrain (2012 GCC Championship / 27th FIBA Asia Championship): Defending champions Qatar won all the four games in the five-team round-robin to emerge as the champions of the 2012 GCC Championship recently. The 2012 GCC Championship was also a qualifying event to spot the three teams that will represent the Gulf Subzone in next year’s 27th FIBA Asia Championship to be played in Lebanon.

Qatar began their campaign beating Saudi Arabia 66-60 before taking UAE in their stride 81-62. Tom Wisman’s team then routed Oman 97-40 before winding up with a 74-64 win against hosts Bahrain.

Bahrain finished second behind Qatar with only a defeat to the champions. Bahrain defeated Saudi Arabia 67-64, UAE 93-74 and Oman 83-36.

Saudi Arabia took the third place with a 2-2 record, beating UAE 67-60 and Oman 70-54.

UAE managed to stave off the wooden spoon beating Oman 95-59.

Qatar had finished with the bronze medal at the 4th FIBA Asia Cup in Tokyo (Japan) last month, thus earning their subzone an additional berth (apart from the normal allotted two) for the 27th FIBA Asia Championship. Saudi Arabia, thus, will join Qatar and Bahrain as the third team from GCC to play in Lebanon next year.

FIBA Asia