ZOUK MIKAEL (Lebanon) - Tabiat Basketball secured a second-place finish in the 2024/2025 FIBA WASL-West Asia League after escaping past Sagesse SC, 75-73, at the Stade Nouhad Naufal Saturday night.
The defending Iran Basketball League champions almost squandered a lead as big as 14 points when the opposition got to within one, 74-73, with 25.1 seconds left, but the breaks of the game went in their favor.
Perry Petty got fouled by Shabazz Muhammad near mid-court with 19.8 seconds left and went on to give his side a bit more breathing room with a split from the line, settling as well what would be the final count.
A missed layup by Jad Khalil after an attempt to take matters in his own hands just before time expired was all that Tabiat needed to come away with the victory, leaving the Green Castle settling for third.
"We are happy we got second place in this tournament," expressed head coach Mehran Shahintab as the club secured another top two finish for Iran in the pan-regional competition's Sub-Zone League.
A total of five players finished in double figures in the victory, with Croatian big man Ivan Buva leading the balanced attack with 16 points alongside 15 rebounds for yet another double-double performance.
Sina Vahedi had 13 points before fouling out. Stedmon Lemon supplied 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. Rasoul Mozafari nailed three triples and made 11 points while Perry finished with 10 points and 6 assists.
Tabiat improved to 5-2 with the victory and will look to finish their campaign strongly against the newly-minted three-time WASL-West Asia champions Al Riyadi on Sunday night at 21:45 local time.
"We have so much respect for their players, their coaching staff, and the organization. It is going to be a tough game, for sure. But we will do our best and try to win," offered Vahedi.
Marc Khouiery, on the other hand, led Sagesse with 19 points and 8 rebounds in the rally that fell just short.
Omar Jamaleddine supplied 18 points as the locals tried to carry the fight on a night star guard Zach Lofton got hurt after suffering an apparent injury while making a layup at the 7:20-mark of the third quarter.
The former NBA pro's limited time and production (11 points) did affect the home team's chances, yet the remaining players showed grit down the stretch by chopping down a 70-62 lead inside the game's final 4:30.
Jamaleddine himself pulled his side to within a field goal, 72-70, and it did not help Tabiat's cause that Vahedi got fouled out as he and Khouiery got called for a double foul after getting a bit physical near center court.
it was also Jamaleddine who cut the gap to a solitary point by following up Khalil's floater, but Tabiat showed better poise when the going got tough - and some aid from Lady Luck - to withstand the fightback.
Sagesse dropped to 3-4 in the standings but are already assured of a Final 8 trip as well. They will look to end their campaign on a high note when they take on Al Difaa Al Jawii on Sunday at 17:45 local time.
FIBA