Basketball Cup semis tip off

AMMAN — The season’s first basketball competition enters its semifinal stage on Wednesday when Riyadi play Ghazzet Hashem and Orthodoxi take on Awdeh.

The knockout competition saw Riyadi oust Kufr Youba, Orthodoxi beat Hurrieh, Awdeh beat Nashama and Ghazzet Hashem beat Jalil. The final is set for December 29 before the league starts January 2.

Last season, Applied Science University (ASU) beat Ittihad Schools for the Jordan Cup title. In the semis, Riyadi lost to Ittihad as Orthodoxi lost to ASU. Last season’s top two teams have pulled out over differences with the Jordan Basketball Federation and players have been dispersed over the rest of clubs.

The Jordan Cup has seen Riyadi win in 2002, 2011 and 2012, Fastlink took the title for four consecutive seasons 2003-04-05-06, Orthodoxi in 2007, Zain in 2008, ASU in 2010, 2013 and 2014.

The Premier Basketball League was won by Orthodoxi in 2014 when they beat Ittihad for their record 23rd title. The veteran team returned to the forefront of competitions after winning the League in 2011 ending a 10-year drought when they beat titleholders ASU. In 2012 and 2013, ASU dominated beating Ittihad to win the league for two back to back titles and the fourth time in their record.

Observers have pointed out to a regression that negatively affected the basketball scene in the past few years, and hope players and fans will return to the courts and help bring the zeal of competition to Jordan’s second most popular sport.

The Jordan Cup is a good warm up for teams ahead of the Premier Basketball League as teams scramble to finalise their line-ups with no imported players this season.