Nail-Biting Victory for Qatar's Al-Arabi Over Lebanon's Al-Antony in Arab Basketball Championship

Qatar's Al Arabi needed overtime to squeeze past Lebanon's Al Antranik 104-103 in a nail-biting quarter-final at the Arab Basketball Championship in Dubai. The defending champions nearly stumbled against the tournament's surprise package, with the game tied 89-89 at the end of regulation time.

Al Arabi looked comfortable early on, building a solid 47-39 lead by halftime. But Al Antranik had other plans. The Lebanese side mounted a strong comeback in the second half, erasing the eight-point deficit to force overtime.

The extra period was just as tight as the regular game. Al Arabi managed to edge it 14-13, securing their spot in the semi-finals by the narrowest possible margin - a single point.

The quarter-finals also saw Kuwait's Kazma beat Bahrain's Al Manama 81-75, while Kuwait SC took down Qatar's Al Rayyan 81-77. These results set up what should be compelling semi-final matchups.

Al Antranik's performance stands out as one of the tournament's biggest stories. The Lebanese club wasn't expected to challenge the established powers, but they pushed the defending champions to the absolute limit. Their comeback from an eight-point halftime deficit shows the kind of fight that makes tournaments unpredictable.

For Al Arabi, this was a wake-up call. Title defenses are never easy, and nearly losing to an underdog in the quarters will likely sharpen their focus for the remaining games.

The 37th edition of the Arab Basketball Championship wraps up Monday at Dubai's Al Nasr Club. With results this close in the quarter-finals, the semi-finals and final should deliver plenty of drama for basketball fans across the region.