FIBA WASL Season 2: Week 5 preview

BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Focus will be on Kuwait Club and Shahrdary Gorgan as both squads look to remain perfect in Week 5 of the FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) Season 2.

Al-Ahli Jeddah versus Kuwait Club

December 11, 2023
Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports Hall, Jeddah, KSA
20:00 local time (GMT+3)

Kuwait Club are aiming to go 3-0 in Group A of the Gulf League as they take on Al-Ahli Jeddah in another road assignment on Monday at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports Hall.

The reigning sub-zone league champions have been nothing short of dominant this season, earning their first two wins via big margin against Muharraq and Al Rayyan, respectively. Their most recent win was against the latter, an 85-62 romp last November 27 at home.

 

That conquest of the Qatari visitors was presided over by Mohamad Hasan with 20 points but the other usual suspects delivered once more, namely Cady Lalanne (18 points, 10 rebounds), Marcus Georges-Hunt (15 points), and Hamad Hasan (11 points).

Surely, they'd try to keep that same form when they fly to Jeddah, although there's uncertainty surrounding the status of Georges-Hunt. The veteran guard unfortunately suffered a leg injury during one of Kuwait Club's games in their domestic league just recently.

The team would definitely want to see him play, especially since they're going up against an Al-Ahli side that's hungry to taste their breakthrough win after two failed tries to start the season.

After losing to Al Rayyan at home, Devin Ebanks and Co. couldn't bounce back against Muharraq. Al-Ahli are dead last in the group standings, and the crew will be taking up their biggest test to date as they're facing a team that hasn't lost since the Gulf League inaugurals.

Al Rayyan versus Muharraq

December 12, 2023
Al-Rayyan Indoor Hall, Doha, Qatar"
20:00 local time (GMT+3)

Notching their second win in a row is the goal of Muharraq as they fly to Qatar and face Al Rayyan on Tuesday night at the Al-Rayyan Indoor Hall in Doha.

Coach Ahmed Jan had said that his team isn't shooting for only one win after breaking through following a 94-80 triumph over Al-Ahli Jeddah at home, and there's no better way to prove as much by following that victory up with another against a youth-laden squad.

Bader Malabas starred in that November 28 win with 22 points on five triples together, and he'll surely be banked on by Muharraq in the game set at 20:00 local time.

But Al Rayyan are keen on neutralizing the veteran guard and the others like Tyler Wilkerson, as they're eager to bounce back from that mauling at the hands of Kuwait Club.

Leader Mouhammad Faye will once again be spearheading the charge, all of them looking to make the most out of their first FIBA WASL assignment at home.

Group A (FIBA WASL-GULF)

4/12 games played

		GAMES				STREAK	GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	Last 5	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Kuwait Club	2	2	0	100		193	154	39	96.5	77	4
2	Al Muharraq Sport Club	2	1	1	50.0		186	188	-2	93	94	3
3	Al Rayyan	2	1	1	50.0		160	173	-13	80	86.5	3
4	Al Ahli	2	0	2	0		168	192	-24	84	96	2

Shahrdary Gorgan versus Al Naft

December 13, 2023
Azadi Basketball Hall, Tehran, Iran
20:30 local time (GMT+3:30)

Shahrdary Gorgan will look to extend their unbeaten run to three in Group A of the West Asia League as they host Al Naft on Wednesday night at the Azadi Basketball Hall in Tehran.

It would be a rematch between Season 1 teams, with the Iran champions out to extend their mastery of the Iraqi crew after winning both of their encounters in the inaugurals - including a 101-91 win that helped them book a direct flight to the sub-zone league's Semi-Finals.

 

 

Will Cherry is surely a marked man in the contest, especially after dropping 30 points on six triples in their dominant 121-70 conquest of Al-Ittihad Ahli at home last November 30.

Not to be forgotten, of course, are Al Naft, which are coming in hungry to taste a win as they're now 0-2. The team hasn't won a FIBA WASL game since Game 2 of their Qualification to Semi-Finals series ZobAhan Isfahan. They eventually lost the best-of-3 series.

Al-Ittihad Ahli versus Sagesse

December 14, 2023
Al Hamadaniyeh Stadium, Aleppo, Syria
18:45 local time (GMT+3)

Two of FIBA WASL's fan favorites will lock horns as Al-Ittihad Ahli host Sagesse on Thursday night at the often-packed Al Hamadaniyaeh Stadium in Aleppo.

Game time is at 18:45 local time, with both teams looking to chalk up win no. 2 of the season. Sagesse are coming in wanting to post a two-game winning streak after that 90-78 victory over Al Naft on the road, which saw Pierre Jackson unleash a sensational debut.

 

There, the veteran globetrotter finished with 39 points, the most points scored by a player in a FIBA WASL debut, eclipsing the 34 set by Wilkerson and Al Wahda's Jomaru Brown.

Much of the attention will be drawn on him, and the Al-Ittihad fans are surely waiting to cheer against him as they try to buoy their team to a bounce-back win.

The Syrian side are coming off that 51-point loss to Gorgan. And so it would be intriguing to see how the team picks itself up from one of the most lopsided results in FIBA WASL.

Group A (FIBA WASL-WEST ASIA)

4/12 games played

		GAMES				STREAK	GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	Last 5	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Shahrdary Gorgan	2	2	0	100		207	144	63	103.5	72	4
2	C.S. Sagesse	2	1	1	50.0		164	164	0	82	82	3
3	Al-Ittihad Ahli	2	1	1	50.0		149	193	-44	74.5	96.5	3
4	Al Naft	2	0	2	0		150	169	-19	75	84.5	2

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