BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Week 3 of the 2024/2025 FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) won't have any shortage of thrill as all eight Gulf League teams are set to compete.
Kuwait Club versus Al Bashaer
Monday, November 4 Shaikh Saad Alabdullah Sport Hall Complex Kuwait City, Kuwait
Defending Sub-Zone League champions Kuwait Club jump back into action on Monday night, looking to get their second win in as many outings when they host the hungry Al Bashaer at the Shaikh Saad Alabdullah Sport Hall Complex.
It's another opportunity to gauge where the team stands, as the Kuwaiti Division 1 Basketball League powerhouse continues working on building chemistry with new players like JaKarr Sampson, Briante Weber, and Augustine Rubit joining the roster.
They emerged triumphant in their league opener last October 21, securing an 88-77 victory over Ahli Club. However, head coach Peter Schomers believes they can perform even better than what they did against the debuting team from Bahrain.
"At the end, we're not happy. But we won by 11 points. It was never a question, I think, that we won. So, that's a good point. But there's definitely upside in our game and things we can improve," the German bench tactician offered.
So, it would be interesting to see how Kuwait Club will respond as they take on a team that's coming off an 83-65 defeat at the hands of Shabab Al Ahli on October 22.
Oman's champions may be the underdogs, but they're coming in with extreme eagerness to pull off the upset. The club is aiming for its breakthrough win as it has now gone 0-7 in FIBA WASL - a skid that dates back to the 2022/2023 season.
Al Ahli Club versus Shabab Al Ahli
Tuesday, November 5 BBA Arena Manama, Bahrain
Also aiming to go 2-0 in Group A are Shabab Al Ahli as they take the turn in testing Al Ahli on Tuesday at the latter's own stomping grounds - the BBA Arena in Manama.
Sir'Dom Pointer is once again expected to spearhead the fight for the UAE League Basketball champions, who are playing with some extra motivation this season as they are out to prove that their runner-up finish in the BCL Asia inaugurals is no fluke.
"We just want to build on that," said the WASL veteran. "Finishing second out of the whole Asia, we feel like we can compete. And we know we can compete."
Another win would definitely boost their confidence further yet they know, too, that a tough challenge lies ahead in Al Ahli, who despite losing their league debut still made a good account of themselves that keeps Coach Jad El Hajj optimistic.
The veteran mentor recalled that he, too, had quite a shaky start into the 2023/2024 season with Sagesse but they managed to steady the ship, eventually going all the way to the Final 8 title bout later on before settling for a runner-up finish to Al Riyadi.
No wonder why El Hajj remains positive, but he and Al Ahli still choose to stay grounded heading into Tuesday's affair as they'll be up against another WASL pioneer.
Al Qadsia SC versus Ittihad Club
Wednesday, November 6 Shaikh Saad Alabdullah Sport Hall Complex Kuwait City, Kuwait
Meanwhile in Group B, Al Qadsia SC and Ittihad Club will look to keep their winning ways but only one of them will stay undefeated. This, as the newcomers take on one another on Wednesday night at the former's own turf in Kuwait City.
Both are heading into the match riding the wave of momentum generated from their debut wins but it was Qadsia who hit the headlines as they wielded the upset ax on none other than Manama by way of a 90-84 result at home last October 28.
They managed to pull it off thanks mostly to their three-point shooting, nailing a total of 16 as their accuracy from deep enabled the crew not only to race to an early lead but to ward off the inaugural WASL champions' late-game rally.
"They really battled. I told them that the reason why they won the game is they played harder. The team that plays the hardest usually wins," head coach Joey Stiebing said.
Definitely, Qadsia are out to put up another fight, this time looking to stop an Ittihad side that handed Al Arabi SC a harsh 86-64 beatdown last October 29 in Jeddah.
Manama versus Al Arabi SC
Thursday, November 7 BBA Arena Manama, Bahrain
Capping off Week 3 action will be a duel between Manama and Al Arabi on Thursday night at the BBA Arena but it won't just be a meeting between losing sides.
It may turn out to be an emotional one as well, with a reunion of sorts set to happen before an expected full house. It will be the first time in WASL that the Bahraini Premier League champions will face one of their former stars in Mosti Rashed.
Rashed was loaned to his current the last year and has since been with the Qatari side, helping them achieve success domestically and internationally as well.
He will be playing against his old team that's in a rebuilding stage of sorts given that almost half of the active roster are new, led by reinforcements Clint Chapman, Tony Carr, and Carlton Bragg plus national team standout Mohamed Buallay.
Will he cause headaches to Coach Linos Gavriel and his former teammates? Or will familiarity favor Manama and contain his scoring ways? Let's all wait and see.
But it won't just be Rashed that fans should expect in the clash. Al Arabi recently picked up the grizzled Elmedin Kikanovic, replacing Tyree Crump.
With the Bosnian big man, they're adding much-needed veteran presence as they will have one of Al Riyadi's key cogs behind their golden double in FIBA WASL last season.
FIBA