Manama, Al Riyadi shoot for Semis tickets

BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Two of the league's unbeaten teams will look to secure Semi-Final tickets in the penultimate week of the FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) Season 2 Group Phase.

Manama and Al Riyadi would want to pounce on that opportunity, with both of them, without a doubt, keen on earning the luxury of earning a direct flight to the said stage that also gives them a chance to get some rest and recovery while waiting for their possible opponents.

The reigning FIBA WASL champions can clinch the first Gulf League Semis spot when they face Al Shamal on the road on Monday at the Al Gharafa Sports Club Multi-Purpose Hall.

Coach Linos Gavriel's unit is currently the no. 1 team in Group B of the sub-zone with a pristine 4-0 record, with their most recent win by way of a dominant 102-82 conquest of rivals Kazma last January 15 at the Shaikh Saad Alabdullah Sport Hall Complex in Kuwait City.

That win saw Travin Thibodeaux tally a FIBA WASL record efficiency with 46 (34 points, 12-of-16 field goal shooting, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals), and the veteran forward is expected to lead the charge once more in the game set to tip off at 20:00 local time.

 

Group B (FIBA WASL-GULF)

8/12 games played

 

		GAMES				STREAK	GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	Last 5	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Manama	4	4	0	100		367	296	71	91.8	74	8
2	Shabab Al Ahli - Dubai	4	3	1	75.0		358	297	61	89.5	74.2	7
3	Kazma	4	1	3	25.0		339	346	-7	84.8	86.5	5
4	Al Shamal	4	0	4	0		290	415	-125	72.5	103.8	4

 

On the other hand, Al Riyadi will try to become the first team in the West Asia League to reach the Semis as they host Al Wahda on Wednesday night at the Nouhad Nawfal Stadium.

Game time is at 21:45 local time, with the defending sub-zone champions also looking to move closer from sweeping Group B. They're currently atop the standings with a 2-0 card.

It's been a while since the Lebanese powerhouse played in FIBA WASL - a 115-83 mauling of Al Shorta last December 21 - but there should be no question whatsoever rhythm-wise. The crew is fresh off a golden finish in the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship.

Plus, they have the mental edge against their Syrian counterparts. It could be recalled that Wael Arakji and Co. opened their Season 2 campaign with a resounding 96-67 win last December 7 that silenced the big crowd that filled the Al Fayhaa Stadium in Damascus.

But of course, Al Wahda would want to exact vengeance, hoping as well to return to the win column. They are in the midst of a two-game slide, with their latest defeat a 79-52 mauling at the hands of Al Shorta - a team they previously beat - last January 17 in Baghdad.

Group B (FIBA WASL-WEST ASIA)

4/6 games played

		GAMES				STREAK	GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	Last 5	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Al Riyadi	2	2	0	100		211	150	61	105.5	75	4
2	Al Shorta SC	3	1	2	33.3		232	241	-9	77.3	80.3	4
3	Al Wahda SC	3	1	2	33.3		193	245	-52	64.3	81.7	4
4	B4	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0	0

Meanwhile, the other game to be played this week will be between Shabab Al Ahli-Dubai and Kazma on Tuesday night at the Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Sports Hall.

The Emirati ball club are presently at second in Group B of the Gulf League with a 3-1 record, and will look to build another win run going as they're coming off a 110-81 home win over Al Shamal last January 16. It was also their bounce-back win after bowing to Manama.

Nick Minnerath and the rest of the squad will be up against a Kuwaiti side aiming to get back on track after suffering a 102-82 beating at the hands of Manama as well.

FIBA