Kuwait's Victory Topples Saudi Arabian Basketball Powerhouse in Arab Championship Clash

Al-Nassr's basketball team crashed out of the Arab Clubs Championship after losing 88-83 to Kuwait SC in the Round of 16. The upset happened on home court at Dubai's Al-Nassr Arena, where the 37th edition of the tournament is running until October 6.

The loss marks a disappointing end for Al-Nassr, who couldn't capitalize on playing in front of their home crowd. Kuwait SC pulled off the five-point victory to advance to the next round, showing they can compete with stronger regional teams.

But the day belonged to Ahli Tripoli, who continues to look like the team to beat. They crushed Yemen's Shabab Hadramout 94-66 for their fourth straight win in the tournament. The Libyan club has been dominant throughout, outscoring opponents and playing with the confidence of championship contenders.

The opening day of the Round of 16 also saw Bahrain's Al-Manama pick up their first win of the tournament. They edged Kuwait's Al-Qadisiyah 75-70 in a tight contest that went down to the wire.

These results shake up the tournament bracket and show that upsets are possible even at this stage. Al-Nassr's early exit opens up their section, while Ahli Tripoli's continued strong play makes them the clear favorite heading into the quarterfinals.

The tournament format means teams get just one chance to advance. There's no room for off nights or slow starts when elimination is on the line.