When they landed in Doha about two weeks ago, they were for sure the red-hot favorites. And when they won the title last night, in an unabashed show of strength leaving the hosts Al Rayyan gasping in the final, it only enhanced Mahram’s reputation as a team that rises to the occasion. Read on for a collection of thoughts of the key men in Mahram’s victory.

A 20-2 scoring advantage running through the early part of the second quarter put Mahram in the driver’s seat and Samad Nikkah and Jackson Vroman proved too experienced to blow away the advantage as Mahram of Iran defended their title in style with a 93-73 win over hosts Al Rayyan of Qatar in the gold medal game on Sunday

For the second time in three games in play-offs, Fadi El Khatib showed why he continues to be the biggest star in Lebanese basketball. El Khatib, on loan from Champville for this competition, played yet another stellar role as Lebanese league champions Al Riyadi Beirut outpaced Applied Science University 82-78 in Overtime to retain the bronze medal they had last year won at Jakarta.

Women’s basketball in the Gulf sub zone region received a boost with the Qatari women’s National Team playing two international friendly games against the invited Philippines women’s National Team.

Astana Tigers of Kazakhstan staged a splendid rally in the second half to stop Syria’s Al Jalaa with a 75-68 win in the play-off for the fifth place on Sunday.