ZOUK MIKAEL (Lebanon) - The best is yet to come for Al Riyadi and that could mean scary hours for the other competing teams looking to end their reign as FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) champions.
Even after achieving unprecedented success in the recent WASL-West Asia League, Wael Arakji believes that the Lebanese powerhouse could get even better as they're entering the Final 8 as a complete unit.
"Now, with the addition of Thon Maker, I think the team will get even better," the star guard said.
Yes, Thon Maker has signed with the Yellow Castle anew, with the former NBA pro looking, of course, to sustain his triumphs with the crew from last season that witnessed them strike gold - at home and overseas.
That included a golden double in WASL where they went back-to-back in the Sub-Zone League before sweeping their way toward the ultimate prize, in the process becoming the league's first-ever Most Valuable Player.
He was also a major reason behind their title run in the BCL Asia inaugurals and there should be no question anymore how much the talented center would want to retain all those titles in this comeback of his.
But what makes Arakji all the more excited with the reunion of sorts is the potential the present-day Riyadi could have with Maker in tow, together with recent additions Marcus Georges-Hunt and Marin Maric.
The two arrived mere days before Round 2 of the WASL-West Asia League and the period leading up to the Final 8 means more time for Coach Ahmad Farran to familiarize the new guys to their scheme of things even more.
"They haven't had enough time for them to train with us, so now we have time to get better, to form a very strong unit," said the reigning BCL Asia MVP. "Hopefully we can show a higher and better level in the Final 8."
Needless to say, much of the attention will be on Riyadi if they can pull off a repeat in the Final 8 next month, and Arakji himself acknowledges how challenging it could get for teams most especially mentally.
But winning is intrinsic for this squad, he offered, as evidenced by their WASL-West Asia 'three-peat.'
"We are showing great maturity year after year," he said. "Some teams, when they do this two years in a row, they get relaxed. But for us we are pushing harder everyday, and this is what's very special about this group."
"If you go in the locker room and speak to the players individually, there's just never enough of winning," the 30-year-old added. "This is a beautiful thing that we have on this team and in this club, and it's a blessing."
And he couldn't be any prouder to be part of it.
"I'm just extremely happy and honored to be part of such a beautiful community," Arakji said, "because this is a community that wants to win on a daily basis, and we're showing a great level day after day."
FIBA