Meet the FIBA WASL Gulf teams: Al-Ahli Jeddah

BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Translating domestic success will be the goal of Al-Ahli Jeddah in their maiden appearance in the FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) Season 2.

After winning the 2022-23 Saudi Basketball League championship, the crew has become the latest team from Saudi Arabia to participate in the tilt after Al Hilal and Al Nasr Riyadh.

 

Definitely, they want to go further than what their predecessors did.

Group A

0/12 games played

		GAMES				STREAK	GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	Last 5	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Kuwait Club	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Al Ahli	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Al Rayyan	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Al Muharraq Sport Club	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0	0

History

Al-Ahli were founded in 1937 and are located right in the heart of Jeddah. They then became one of the most esteemed football clubs in Saudi Arabia with 34 official championships.

Al-Ahli then branched out to other sports including basketball. Their team was successful as well by winning numerous titles locally such as the Kingdom League and the Alnokhbah Cup, but it wasn't until this year where they won their first-ever Saudi Premier League crown.

Emblem

Homecourt

The team plays its home games at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports Hall in Jeddah. But it will be utilizing the Green Basketball Court in Riyadh for FIBA WASL games.

Path to FIBA WASL

Al-Ahli won their maiden Premier League title following an impressive 20-2 campaign in the 2022-23 season, and that also meant booking a spot in FIBA WASL Season 2.

 

They will be competing in Group A of the Gulf League, which is bannered by the reigning sub-zone champions Kuwait Club and also has Al Rayyan and Muharraq.

Players to watch

Al-Ahli are arguably one of the more anticipated teams in FIBA WASL Season 2, for they will be headlined by reinforcements that boast of rich experience playing globally.

Former NBA players Devin Ebanks and DeAndre Liggins will lead the charge for the crew, hoping to, of course, emulate their golden run in the Saudi league in a bigger stage.

Ebanks is known for his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, who picked him in the second round of the 2010 NBA Draft and played there until 2013, becoming a globetrotter shortly after. Just last year, he helped Manama clinch the Bahraini Premier League and Bahraini Cup titles.

 

Liggins, on the other hand, was drafted by the Orlando Magic in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft. He last played in the Association in 2018 with the New Orleans Pelicans, then played briefly in the G-League before having stints in various parts of the world.

Al-Ahli will also be parading former Cameroonian national team standout Kenny Kadji. He signed with the club just last September, adding more experience and depth to their frontline.

FIBA