FIBA WASL Season 2: The new (Gulf) kids on the block
BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Much of the attention will be on Manama and Kuwait Club but the two will definitely be facing tougher challenges from new teams in Season 2 of the FIBA WASL-Gulf League.
BEIRUT (Lebanon) - All the attention are on Manama and Kuwait Club but the two are set to face tougher challenges in their respective title defense bids in season of the FIBA WASL.
Both champion squads are bound for a collision course with some of the new ball clubs competing in the Gulf League, all of which are eager to prove their worth in their first foray.
The inaugural WASL-Gulf winners, for one, are pooled in Group A together with 3 of the Sub-Zone league's 4 newcomers, namely Al Ahli Jeddah, Al Rayyan, and Muharraq.
On the other hand, the first-ever Final 8 titlists will be going up against Al Shamal in Group B, which also features returning teams Shabab Al Ahli-Dubai and Kazma.
The stage is set 🔒
— FIBA Asia Champions Cup (@FIBAAsiaCC) August 8, 2023
Check out the groupings for #FIBAWASL Season 2! How do you like your squad’s chances this year? 👀 pic.twitter.com/rkzCHpXyss
Now, we take a closer look at the new kids on the block.
Al Ahli Jeddah
Al Ahli Jeddah have been in existence since the late 1930s, but it wasn't until 2023 that they won their first-ever Saudi Premier League championship by beating Al Nasr Riyadh.
Achieving as much also meant punching a ticket to FIBA WASL, where they will be the third team from Saudi to play in the pan-regional club tilt after Al Nasr and Al Hilal, the 2022 champs.
Al-Rayyan
Founded in 1970, Al Rayyan are the winningest ball club in the Qatari Basketball League (QBL) with 18 championships, the most recent of which was the 2023 title to qualify for WASL.
By making it to the competitions, the multi-titled team has given itself a chance to conquer another FIBA club contest after ruling the FIBA Asia Champions Cup in 2002 and 2005.
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Al Shamal
The 2022-23 QBL runners-up will now aim for greater glory now that they've made it to FIBA WASL, earning a shot to widen a trophy case that so far features 2 domestic league titles.
Muharraq
Muharraq settled for a runner-up finish in the 2022-23 Bahraini Premier League Finals but it was all enough to book a spot in FIBA WASL Season 2. Plus, it could be an opportunity to avenge that loss to Manama should they meet the reigning Final 8 champs down the road.
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Similar to Al-Rayyan, the upcoming stint will mark the 3-time Bahraini champions' return to the FIBA club competition after the Asia Champions Cup in 2019 in Thailand.
FIBA