DUBAI (United Arab Emirates) - It couldn't get any more special for Shabab Al Ahli that their first win over Manama in the FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) have also given themselves a chance to set up a date with destiny.
Inshallah, we'll be in the Finals.
The reigning UAE League Basketball champions on Monday night moved just one win away from the 2024/2025 Gulf League Finals by taking the opening salvo of their best-of-3 Semi-Final series, manhandling the same team that actually beat them twice in as many meetings during the Sub-Zone League's Group Phase last season.
"It's our first time beating Manama in WASL," reflected star forward Qais Alshabebi shortly after their 104-91 Game 1 win at the Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Sports Hall. "It's a good team win. We played good basketball."
It was also their first win in the Gulf League Semi-Finals after being swept by eventual titlists Kuwait Club back in the 2022/2023 inaugurals, adding more story to what shapes up to be a banner year for the club in WASL.
For starters, they came into this Semi-Finals via direct qualification after securing the no. 1 seed in Group A with a 5-1 record, doing so by beating, coincidentally, the erstwhile reigning two-time Sub-Zone League champions through a 93-80 result in their home floor during the final day of the preliminaries last January 20.
Never have the Dubai-based club finished as the top seed in the Group Phase in previous WASL seasons but there's a first time for everything, as they say, and perhaps sooner or later, they could be writing history.
A major part of this solid run of theirs so far was the change in locker room leadership they pulled off in the middle of the season. Just before 2024 came to an end, the team replaced Oualid Zrida and brought in the distinguished Miodrag Perisic - yes, the concurrent head coach of the Lebanon men's national team.
Just about two months later and the Serbian mentor has brought his crew closer to the Big Dance following Monday night's victory against a club that he once manned the sidelines of some years ago.
"We have a very serious opponent who won WASL two years ago. I respect this club so much - I worked with them a few years ago," reflected the 52-year-old, who led Manama to the Bahraini Basketball Supercup title in 2016.
And as early as next week, Perisic could help Shabab Al Ahli realize their dream of reaching the Gulf League Finals for the first time ever should they take care of business in Game 2 at the BBA Arena in Manama.
Should they really do so, that would mark yet another achievement for the whole organization in just a span of months after finishing as runners-up in the Basketball Champions League Asia inaugurals last June.
But as exciting as the future may seem, the squad chooses to stay on an even keel. All of their attention is locked in on Game 2 set next Monday, looking, of course, to get the job done and prevent their foes from garnering any sort of momentum now that their backs are against the wall yet again this season.
Shabab Al Ahli need not to look that far for a reminder of how dangerous the Lions could be when push comes to shove. They lost Game 1 of their Qualification to Semi-Finals series against Al Ahli Club in the Bahraini derby, but went on to win the next two to complete the reverse sweep and complete the Gulf League Final Four picture.
It was a repeat of what they did back in 2023, where Coach Linos Gavriel's wards rallied back from losing their QSF opener to Kazma by taking the next two games, eventually going all the way to the Final.
Those instances should very well serve as lessons for Shabab Al Ahli and that's why focusing on Game 2 is of utmost imperative to Alshabebi and the rest of the crew in their quest for success in this league.
"We're gonna take care of our chances ... We have a few days to prepare for Game 2 in Bahrain. We will be ready for Game 2," said the star big man, who poured 19 points and 6 rebounds in Game 1. "Inshallah, we'll be in the Finals."
FIBA