Second season crucial as FIBA WASL eyes long-term, says Khajirian

DUBAI (United Arab Emirates) - Crucial will be the second season of the FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) in building the staying power it hopes to have.

"When players play more international games, their performances with the national team will be at a higher level," - Mr. Khajirian

FIBA Executive Director - Asia Mr. Hagop Khajirian said that the pan-regional club competition's next go-around beginning later this year will be key in their aim of becoming an established entity as the league now focuses on the long-term.

"First, we have to establish what we have," he said during a roundtable discussion with members of the accredited media Wednesday at the Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Sports Hall. 

"The second year is needed to establish this league, and throughout the year, we can think about what we can do next."

Fully owned by FIBA, the inaugural WASL season tipped-off in 19 December 2022 and is about to conclude with the ongoing Final 8 here at the Emirati city.

Mr. Khajirian is proud to have seen his brainchild come into fruition, for it has been a dream of his to have such competition in the region as it will boost the National Federations and its corresponding leagues locally.

"When players play more international games, their performances with the national team will be at a higher level," he said.

"Second, the organization and the standard of the games of the competition is different from what each local league is used to organizing in their countries. We organize it in a way that everybody likes at the international level.

"We hope the local leagues in the future will be organizing their games under similar standards," added Mr. Khajirian.

Part of his goals, of course, is to see the league grow as the years go by. But then again, all focus is shifted on the second season projected to start in October, bringing with them the proposals and lessons from the maiden season.

One of the learnings is shortening the season from the initial plan of 8 months to  6 so as to not run in conflict with the local leagues' Final Phase schedules.

"We witnessed in so many countries that the teams and the players, when they are playing in parallel of two events, most of the time their performances were not to the level that they started their local leagues or WASL," said Mr. Khajirian.

"So, part of our plan is to sit down with the National Federations and their respective local leagues to find a common ground , where teams can play in their leagues and in WASL harmoniously."

"With this, we are also hoping that the teams, coaches, players, and everybody else involved will become more competent in playing in their domestic leagues and in WASL at the same time to provide the level of competition we aspire to see on a consistent basis," he added.

The roundtable discussion provided an opportunity for FIBA as well to further explain to the media the essence and importance of WASL, and its involvement in the FIBA Asia club competition ecosystem that's expected to grow in the coming years.

In high spirits was Mr. Khajirian in the entire discussion, mighty proud especially with how WASL has become since it started last December. "We hope the competition will continue with the same way it started," he said. "The interest of the clubs, the performance of the clubs, the contribution of the clubs, the management, players, coaches, are very encouraging."

"We hope it will take the extent that it deserves in the coming years."

Moving forward, Mr. Khajirian hopes, too, that the FIBA WASL will serve as an effective vehicle of further promoting and harnessing the game of basketball in the region.

FIBA