Game Photos. Game Details and Stats

BEIRUT, Lebanon (23rd FIBA Asia Champions Cup): Iraqi outfit Duhok stepped up the gas in the second quarter to take  firm grip on the game and then went on to post a 73-58 win against Belent Asgabat of Turkmenistan in the bronze medal play-off of the 23rd FIBA Asia Champions Cup on Sunday.

The triumph for the Kurdistan based team, also marked the first ever medal for any Iraqi team in a FIBA Asia competition.

“In a manner of speaking, this is a triumph for all people of Iraq,” said Duhok coach Hamza Ubaid Bakkal.

Duhok were a quarterfinalist at the 22nd FIBA Asia Champions Cup at Manila (Philippines) last year and had finished 10th a year earlier when they made their debut at the 21st FIBA Asia Champions Cup in Doha (Qatar). Bakkal had been the coach of the team at Doha.

“It’s been a long way from then,” Bakkal said recalling the event when Duhok made their first appearance on the international scene at Doha.

Jenero Gorgiss was the leader of Duhok triumph today especially playing at the vanguard of the team’s offense when they moved into control in the second quarter.

Gorgiss had a 5/6 in field shooting, including converting three treys in four attempts, accounting for 13 points to put Duhok in command. The 30-year-old went on to finish with a game-high 26 points, in a 10/18 field shooting.

Ali Amer Al-Juboori joined the Duhok party in the second half providing the necessary support to Gorgiss to consolidate the team’s position.

The 25-year-old guard was inducted late in the first quarter and fired in a trey in his only attempt in the first half, but went on to add 14 points in the second.

Ali Hatem Hameed had the only double-double of the game – of a dozen points and 11 rebounds to push Duhok further up.

Uzbek imports Aleksandr Kozlov and Samender Juginisov kept Belent’s ship afloat combining for 32 points and 17 rebounds.

FIBA Asia Executive Committee member Mr. Mudar Majdoub gave away the medals and the trophy to Duhok.

FIBA Asia