A team connected by trust
That was clear from the first checkball Saudi Arabia The power was not in a single athlete, but in the way they moved together. Pass between teammates, Unified partners, and athletes working together.
Although Yousef was primarily known as a center, he showed impressive versatility. His confident dribbling, with both ball movement and defense, precise. Blocking shots, he transitioned seamlessly between maintaining possession and helping orchestrate the offense.
“Honestly, I’m very proud of my team. We played with a lot of spirit, stayed focused and showed strong teamwork on the field. Everyone did their best, and that made our performance today really special.”
Yousef started playing basketball in his younger years at school, through the Unified Champion Schools Program. “There I discovered my love for the game, learned the basics and gained confidence playing with my teammates. I also tried other sports such as football, but basketball quickly became my favorite.”
Sportsmanship in the spotlight
In a day 1 match against the Dominican Republiccompetition was fierce, but the spirit of inclusivity remained strong. During a struggle for the ball under the rim, Saudi player Sameer Aldhahri (#11) was knocked to the ground.
His opponents rushed in and helped him up with words of encouragement. The crowd cheered the gesture, a reminder that unity, even under pressure, is a key value in this global competition.
Yousef reflected on the moment with a smile: “That’s what I love about this game: we compete hard, but we support each other even harder.” The Dominican Republic came out on top with a score of 21-2.
Growing forward together
Although Saudi Arabia did not advance to the final, Yousef remains driven to evolve.
“Next time I want to improve my passing, my positioning and my communication,” he revealed. “Small details can make a big difference in tight games.”
Their Day 1 opponents, the Dominican Republic, will face hosts Puerto Rico in the Men’s Final tonight. The game starts at 8:15 PM in the lively Distrito T-Mobile.
For Saudi Arabia the World Cup has already ended, but their determination to come back sharper, faster and ready for the next one is crystal clear.
Relive the action via the livestream!
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