Muscat: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) 3-3 Basketball Championship, held over two days in Oman, concluded with Qatar's men's basketball team securing second place after a challenging match against Bahrain, which ended in a 16-20 defeat.

According to Qatar News Agency, the Qatari men's team reached the final by defeating Saudi Arabia 20-16 in the semi-final round, while Bahrain advanced after overcoming Kuwait 21-14. During the group stage, Qatar achieved a perfect record, starting their campaign with a victory over Oman (B) 16-12 and following it up with a 17-13 win against Bahrain. The team, consisting of Ahmed Saeed Mohammed, Diyaan Yanich, Mieho Harashitich, and Nedim Muslic, delivered consistent performances throughout the championship.

In the women's competition, Qatar's national team finished in fourth place after losing to Kuwait 7-11 in the match that determined the third and fourth positions. Earlier, the team fell to Saudi Arabia 13-19 in the semi-final, while Bahrain defeated Kuwait 12-10 in the same round. Saudi Arabia ultimately won the title with a 20-17 victory over Bahrain.

The women's team began their journey with a decisive 21-7 win over Oman (B) but faced a setback with a 9-21 loss to Bahrain in group stage matches. The team was represented by Maya Ramy Al Khatib, Mona Suleiman, Nazeeha Hossam, and Tania Taweel. Mona Suleiman emerged as a key player, earning the tournament's Best Player award for her impressive performance, leadership, and crucial contributions throughout the championship.

Suleiman expressed pride in receiving the award, crediting her team and coaching staff for their support. She emphasized that the award serves as motivation to improve her performance and help the team achieve better results in future competitions. Despite their fourth-place finish, Suleiman noted that the team played strong matches, gaining valuable experience and developing their technical and physical skills.