BEIRUT (Lebanon) - In yet another testament to how good basketball has been in the country, Iran have proven themselves as one of the perennial contenders in the FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL).
Shahrdary Gorgan in particular have brought immense pride to the nation, achieving the highest finish by an Iranian ball club in the pan-regional competition when they placed third during 2023/2024 Final 8 in Doha, Qatar in a feat that also sent them to the Basketball Champions League Asia inaugurals in Dubai.
The team had also been a finalist in the first two WASL-West Asia League seasons, with the 2022/2023 edition more memorable for their fans as they beat a fellow Iranian team in Zob Ahan Esfahan in the Semi-Finals.
As solid as their history in WASL is, a championship - that can match the glory days when Iranian clubs were ruling the roost in the erstwhile FIBA Asia Champions Cup - remains elusive for Iran in this league. Will newcomers Tabiat Basketball be the one to make up for what their predecessors fell short in doing?
History
The company has been in the food business for over a decade now but it decided to venture out into professional sports just a few years ago, with 2023 marking their entry into the Iranian Basketball League.
And they wasted no time announcing their arrival. After claiming the third-seed in the regular season, the squad outlasted Palayesh Naft Abadan in the best-of-5 Quarter-Finals, dealt Zob Ahan a gentleman's sweep in the Semi-Finals, and then outlasted Gorgan in the race-to-3 Finals that went the distance to win it all.
Making it all the more impressive was that they ended Gorgan's three-year reign as champs, earning as well the right to represent the league - and Iran, of course - in the 2024/2025 WASL-West Asia League.
Without a doubt, they want to carry over that success in their foray in a FIBA club tournament, although it would be easier said than done given how stacked the present Sub-Zone League's competition is.
But Tabiat can lean on some much-needed WASL experience coming from guys such as Sina Vahedi and Arman Zangeneh, to name some, as they had previously played for Gorgan and Zob Ahan, respectively.
And just recently, they signed up Perry Petty, who served as one of Gorgan's best players and played a major role behind their 'three-peat' in the Iranian league and in their first West Asia League Final trip.
Are we looking at another possible contender?
Emblem
To check Tabiat's upcoming FIBA WASL games, click here.
FIBA