Doha, July 25 (QNA) - Qatar national under-18 basketball team are set to kick off their campaign in the Gulf qualifiers for the FIBA U-18 Asia Cup tomorrow, Sunday, when they take on Saudi Arabia at the Al Gharafa Club indoor arena. 
Qatar enter the match aiming for a victory to secure a strong start, providing vital momentum in the race for one of the three qualifying berths for the continental tournament, scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad, India, this coming August. 
Doha is hosting the Gulf qualifying tournament from July 25 to 30, organized by the Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) with the participation of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the Sultanate of Oman.
The qualifiers follow a single-round robin format, with each team playing four matches. The top three teams in the final standings will advance to the Asian championship, elevating the stakes of every encounter from the opening round amid tightly contested competition levels and a shared desire for a successful start.
Team Qatar enter the tournament following a comprehensive preparation period. The technical staff focused on elevating the players' physical and tactical readiness through an overseas training camp in Yalova, Turkey. The camp featured several friendly matches, allowing Turkish head coach Cengiz Karadag to evaluate player performance and finalize the most prepared roster for official competition.
The coaching staff relies on a cohort of young prospects representing the future of Qatari basketball. The 12-player final roster is spearheaded by team captain Abdullah Yassin, alongside Tameem Ashraf Abouissa, Meshaal Khaled Al Mughni, Moaz Omar Moussa, Azzam Mohammed Yakan, Ziyad Tamer Al Gohary, Mohammed Saeed Badri, Mahmoud Tamer Ibrahim, Amer Ibrahim Moussa, Owen Ikina, Youssef Walid Abdelqader, and Shahi Mohammed. (QNA)