Muslim Basketball

Defensive juggernaut. Middle of the pack offensively. Their length and hight make it very difficult on their opponents, their ability to capitalize in transition ended games in their favor. But they aren’t without flaws, a flaw that more and more teams are picking up - they have no perimeter jumpsuit outside of Salman. They were very successful regardless of their outside shooting woes, but when the court shrinks and teams clog the paint, will they be able to get and hit the open three to win a championship?

Easy work.

Expected them to respond to their first loss of the year in a big way. They faced a Cairo team who played with just four guys - the perfect chance to get back on track after a tough loss. Unfortunately, they played an ugly and sloppy game - BUT they have a top defense and that will win them games when their offense doesn’t. 

Had the full squad, but didn’t maintain the intensity for the entire forty minutes to get the win. After a very, very slow and ugly first half, both teams starting making shots. The finish of this game was outstanding though, unfortunately for Sana’a, they were left with the L. Mo and Raied were contained, if it wasn’t for solid defense all around and Salman “New Corner Hot” Khan stroking it from the corners in critical moments, they would have lost by double digits. What made me uncomfortable though, is I watched Raied and Mo on several occasions not run back on defense after they were unsatisfied with a no call. At the end of the day, they lost by 1 - an ounce more of grit gets them the win. That’s the difference. Maybe Amman will give them a fight, but they’ll come out angry for four straight games, maintain that point margin, and lock up the top se

Best team in the league. #thingsMBsays

They ripped the heart out of a team that had very little heart left. Dominant second half, there's absolutely no denial to that, but, watching Istanbul's body language, they no longer had any desire to play AND THAT IS A DIRECT CREDIT TO SANA'A. #thingsMBsays

Did not have it going early, but Mo Amin and Raied found it in the latter part of the first half and did not stop. Impressive come from behind victory in a game that looked like Jakarta was cruising to victory in. Most impressive was even when Mo was not able to get a great look, he forced the defense to commit foul after foul. They have two guys with an incredible act for getting to the rim, but as a team, they are very weak from 3. They shoot the lowest percentage in the league from deep and make less than three 3s per game. Fortunately, they have two horses that find a way to get good looks #thingsMBsays

They win games. Mo keeps putting up double-doubles, Raied matched and raised him this week. Why are they not #1? They do not bring it game in and game out. They win games that they should win by 20, by 5. They don’t run back on defense, they get discouraged when calls are missed. It’s still Week 2, but a championship mindset needs to be built from now. Islamabad appears to have that attitude, Sana’a does not. For now, advantage Islamabad. Way too early.

Played a shorthanded Delhi squad, but this is more about Sana’a than Delhi. Mo Amin can play. Add 16 and 12 from Qasim and Salman, and this team can score. They have the size to defend the perimeter and really challenge opposing offenses. Add Raied’s dynamic and slashing offensive game and you have a team that can play with the best of them. Right now, only a handful of teams are equipped to challenge Dhaka – Sana’a tops that list.