Libya's Al-Ittihad clinched the Damascus International Tournament title on Friday night with an 88-85 victory over Egypt's Al-Ittihad Alexandria in a tightly contested final. The result added another trophy to Libyan basketball's recent achievements.
Al-Ittihad set the tone in the first quarter, edging ahead 19-18, and carried a 45-42 lead into halftime. The Libyan side widened the gap to 67-59 by the end of the third period, but Al-Ittihad Alexandria fought back in the final quarter to set up a dramatic finish. Ties came at 30-30 and 38-38, and the score was level again at 81-81 in the closing stages before the Libyan side held on for the three-point win.
Al-Ittihad's run to the title included a narrow defeat along the way, but they recovered to win most of their matches and lift the trophy.
Individual honours went to the club's Lebanese head coach Fouad Abou Chakra, named Best Coach, and Libyan player Mohammed Al-Saadi, who received the Best Player award, rounding off a memorable campaign for the Libyan champions.
