Amir Saoud admits: 'I didn't see the clock'

GHAZIR (Lebanon) - Amir Saoud admitted being unaware of the situation in a rare endgame lapse that proved costly for Al Riyadi's bid of sweeping their way back into the FIBA WASL-West Asia League Final on Wednesday night.

"I didn't see the clock, honestly," the 33-year-old said during the postgame press conference of their 109-106 overtime loss to Sagesse in Game 2 of the Semis at a packed Ghazir Club Stadium. "I thought the time was running, that's why I took a quick shot."

The defending sub-zone league champions were only trailing by two, 108-106, and had the opportunity to at least tie the game when Karim Zeinoun regained the possession after intercepting the pass of Ahmad Ibrahim with 20.3 seconds left to play.

Saki Sakakini was there to get Zeinoun's save and then gave it to Amir Saoud, who then ran near the three-point line and pulled up for the potential go-ahead bucket.

He missed. And Ibrahim was there to haul down the rebound before dishing to Cleanthony Early, who was then fouled and got sent to the line with 7.2 seconds left. Early only split his charity stripe attempts but Sagesse walked away with the win that sent the series to a decider.

In all fairness to Saoud, the lefty guard was on-point from deep in OT, nailing a pair that enabled his side to tie the game in both instances to keep in step with their foes.

But the veteran internationalist himself thought, too, that he could have perhaps opted for a better shot. "We were only down two. Maybe, I could've made a better decision," he said.

More than that mistake, though, Saoud also lamented how the rest of the team got tired, especially in the game's final minutes - Al Riyadi rallied back from 14 points down in the third and built a 95-88 lead with 1:09 left in the fourth, only for Sagesse to force OT.

"It's tough to play in Ghazir. We did our best. Sagesse wanted it more, especially in the last couple of minutes. We dropped, maybe, physically," he offered.

Head coach Ahmad Farran seconded as much. "Maybe physically we were tired, especially since we have a couple of players who are sick," he said.

"Wael [Arakji] just left the hospital at 2 PM taking fluids and medicine. And, I don't have two assistant coaches; I don't have the manager, too. We did not practice well this week, so I think it affected us," the champion bench tactician continued.

As tough as the loss was, which was Al Riyadi's first this season after a 5-0 start, Saoud is charging it into experience, promising to make better decisions next time.

"It is what it is," said Saoud, who finished with 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists."I'm gonna watch film. I'm gonna learn from what I did. I'll be better next time."

FIBA