Al Sadd set for showdown against Al Arabi in 2020 Amir Cup basketball final today

When Al Sadd take on Al Arabi in the final of the 2020 Amir Cup basketball tournament today, it will be the first time the two clubs will be meeting at this stage in the 21-year history of the prestigious tournament.

The path to the final took different routes for the two sides with two-time champions Al Sadd needing to dig deep to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in their semi-finals clash against the 2020 Qatar Cup winners Al Wakrah. The match went down to the wire, and their shooting guard Omar Saad had to come to the rescue as he nailed two free-throws with just 10 seconds remaining as "The Wolves" clinched a narrow 78-77 win.

The 2018 champions Al Arabi, meanwhile, had it relatively easy against Al Ahli with forward Sammy Monroe Jr. hitting 30 points as the coach Hatem Mamlouk team claimed an 80-74 victory against The Brigadiers.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, Al Sadd's Greek coach Vasilis Bratsiakos said that he wasn't unaware of the strong challenge a team of Al Arabi's caliber pose. 

"We are definitely up against a very strong side who are determined as we are to clinch the trophy. Doubtlessly, it will be a tough match, but we are prepared and determined to win the club," the 50-year-old coach said.

He added that they are mentally prepared to take on "The Dream Team" and they are not going to let their guards down against a fast and focussed team like Al Arabi.

"They have very good players who can score from any angle. Players like Sammy Moore and others can do damage to any team if care is not taken, but we have done our homework quite well, and I believe we have all it takes to claim victory," Bratsiakos added.

On the secret of his team's success in the current season, the Greek said, "There are no secrets. The main reason is to work hard every day and insist on winning every match, believing in our abilities and doing our best."

Reiterating his coach's opinion, Al Sadd captain Faisal Abu Issa said that the team's goal is to claim the title.

"We were able to reach the final because of our great ambition. We hope to culminate our efforts in this version of the tournament by winning the title," said Faisal. "The goal now is to win the crown."

On the final, he added, "We know the match will not be easy. But we are determined to display our best performance, and our ambitions are limitless."

Speaking in a similar vein, Al Arabi's coach Hatem Mamlouk noted that his team's excellent run into the final was no fluke and they are ready to prove that against Al Sadd.

"I believe the match is going to be tough against Al Sadd. They are capable of springing surprises even in the dying minute of the game, and we are well aware of that. We are determined to ensure that the title returns to Al Arabi for the second time and we have a point to prove on the court on Wednesday," he said.

Al Arabi captain Fahad Al Darwish said, "Winning for us is non-negotiable, and that's how we are approaching this game. We want to make our fans and the club happy, and the best way to do that is by bringing home the trophy. We are ready to battle Al Sadd, and I believe in the end, victory shall be ours."

The 2020 Amir Cup final takes place today, with the kickoff slated for 6 pm at the Indoor Hall of the Al Gharafa Sports Club.

The no-spectator match will be streamed live on YouTube.com/qatarbf, Facebook.com/qatarbasketball and Twitter.com/qatarbf.

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