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Egyptian basketball superstar Nadine Selaawi believes players from the UAE can get what they want in a format that showcases skills different from traditional formats.
bay today, Journalist
The countdown has begun for local basketball stars as they prepare for their chance to represent the UAE on the global stage.
After weeks of qualifiers in the UAE, the Red Bull Halftime UAE Final will bring together the best streetball players at Dubai’s Satwa Park on 3 June for a place in the Global Finals.
The Red Bull Half Court is a 3v3 streetball tournament that brings together exciting talent from over 30 countries who will compete for the grand prize at the final in Serbia this September.
In the UAE, the event, developed in partnership with property developer Arada and sponsored by the Dubai Sports Council, brings an exciting blend of streetball, music, fashion and street art to the local community. For the upcoming final, the Satwa Park Stadium will be revitalized in partnership with Dubai Municipality to leave a legacy for the region.
Egyptian basketball superstar Nadine Selaawi is a global ambassador for Red Bull Half Court; Al Ahly basketball team and Egyptian national team star is a record breaker at the US collegiate level.
Following last year’s final in her native Cairo, she believes the players from the UAE can get what they need in a format that showcases skills different from traditional ones.
“Last year the UAE team did well. I believe this time around, based on what I’ve seen from the games there, they might have a decent chance of winning everything.
“3×3 is an intimate game, an individual team game where you can express yourself and your skills more than in a regular basketball game,” Selaawi added.
In fact, the event’s format, which many basketball fans prefer, could also favor the eventual winner of the UAE final.
Ehab Amin is Red Bull’s half-court man, the hero of Al Ahly and the Egyptian national team who also had a stellar college career in the US. Speaking of the game, he said, “Half court is a dynamic format, it’s a shorter stroke, it’s faster, each player has to do more and there’s less space, so you need a A team that can pass, dribble, dunk — no weaknesses!”
He added, “All the teams are so close to the knockout rounds, usually two or three points away, it could be anybody’s game.”
Ehab’s idea was echoed by Wael Arakji, another of the Middle East’s biggest basketball stars. The Lebanese player recently led his country to the finals of the 2022 FIBA ​​Asia Cup, where he won the tournament’s MVP award.
According to Arakji, the event comes at a golden age for basketball in the region, “the enthusiasm and desire for the game is at an unprecedented level. The Arab countries have been very active and reaching the top. The team has played and I have seen the quality of play in the UAE, the support for the game and the excitement of the fans.”
Talking about the event in Dubai, Arakji is looking forward to more talent from the UAE, “I played in the exhibition match of the Red Bull half-time UAE final in Dubai last year and it was great to be there to watch the action. This year they will be more skilled because they know This format, I’m really looking forward to witnessing it.”
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