Oman’s national basketball team suffered their third consecutive defeat in the FIBA Asia Cup 2029 Pre-Qualifiers after falling 115-89 to hosts the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday at the Shabab Al Ahli venue in Dubai.

The match marked a challenging start for Oman, as the UAE quickly seized control by capitalizing on Oman’s early lapses in concentration and adopting a high-tempo offensive approach. The hosts dominated the first quarter, outscoring Oman 42-17 to establish a significant lead.

Oman responded with a more disciplined performance in the second quarter, demonstrating improved organization and intensity on both ends of the court. Enhanced ball movement and offensive efficiency enabled Oman to score 28 points while limiting the UAE to 20, narrowing the halftime deficit to 62-45.

The momentum carried into the third quarter, with Oman and the UAE engaging in a more balanced contest. Oman scored 25 points compared to the UAE’s 26, with both teams exchanging baskets throughout the period. However, the UAE regained dominance in the final quarter, intensifying their offensive pressure and outscoring Oman 27-19 to secure the victory.

Individually, Abdulrahman al Shuaibi led Oman’s scorers with 24 points. Other notable contributions came from Osama al Riyami with 16 points, Hadid Bait Bakhit with 14, Ahmed al Sinani with 13, and Ayman al Muharrami who added 11 points. Rasheed al Zahaibi chipped in six points.

Despite the defeat, Oman’s performance after the opening quarter showed encouraging signs for the coaching staff, highlighted by improved offensive execution and more competitive play. Across the final three quarters, Oman scored 72 points against the UAE’s 73, emphasizing the progress made following the difficult start.

With this loss, Oman remains without a win in Group A, having previously lost to Kuwait 88-63 and Bahrain 106-62. The national team will next face Nepal on Monday in their final first-round group match, aiming to secure their initial victory of the tournament and close their campaign in Dubai on a more positive note. The team will look to build on their stronger phases against the UAE and strive for more consistency throughout all four quarters in the concluding game.