South Korea won the 11th Fazza International Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, defeating Thailand in a thrilling final, 75-69.
Eight teams: United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Australia (Emerging Rollers), Germany (U22’s), Thailand, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa competed in the tournament, which was hosted by the Dubai Club for People of Determination.
The teams were seeded and split across two pools of four. Over the course of the first three days they played a round robin to determine placing in the pools. Thailand and South Korea both went 3-0 in the pool stages securing themselves top spot of their respective groups and a place in the semi-finals.
Joining them in the semi-finals was Germany, who took narrow wins over Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to progress, and Australia, who just edged South Africa and managed a comfortable win over UAE.
The penultimate day saw both semi-finals and the 5-8 crossover games played. Both South Korea and Thailand maintain their undefeated record as they defeated Australia and Germany, respectively, to secure their places in the final. In the 5-8 crossover games, despite a close game throughout, Kuwait proved too strong in the closing minutes to take a 58-46 win over UAE, whilst Saudi Arabia caused an upset defeating South Africa, 63-53.
The finals day saw Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia for the second time in the competition to claim 5th spot. South Africa ended on a winning note to finish 7th and subject UAE to 8th place. Despite a huge comeback from the Australian’s against Germany in the 3rd/4th playoff, the German’s held their nerve to take the win and third place. In the final, South Korea won the championship defeating Thailand in a thrilling final, 75-69.
The Fazza International Wheelchair Basketball Tournament is used to help promote and develop the sport of wheelchair basketball in West Asia, and welcomes teams from across the world to compete.
An International Referee Refresher and Zonal clinic also ran alongside the tournament.
Image courtesy of Dubai Club for People of Determination.