'Disappointing finish': Chapman apologetic as Al Hilal miss WASL Final 8

DUBAI (United Arab Emirates) - Clint Chapman apologized after Al Hilal witnessed the bitter end of what once a promising WASL campaign for the ball club.

The Saudi Arabian side bowed to Shabab Al Ahli-Dubai on the road in the Gulf League Third-Place Game on Monday night, which not only finished their season but also crushed their bid of securing a seat at the Final 8 in June.

"A disappointing finish, for sure," lamented the veteran big man shortly after their 88-76 defeat at the Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Sports Hall in Dubai.

"For myself, for the team, for all the fans back home, for Al Hilal, and in Saudi Arabia, it's disappointing. I'm sorry that this is the way the season finished."

Al Hilal emerged as one of the favorites in the newest pan-regional league after an impressive Group Phase run. They only lost once (5-1) on the way to clinching the Group A top seed, which merited a direct flight to the Semi-Finals.

The 2022 Saudi Premier League champions, however, could not sustain that fine form in the said stage, eventually kissing their Gulf title hopes goodbye.

A side that banked on the towering tandem of Chapman and Mo Alsuwailem, Al Hilal got chopped down by the gritty Manama and got swept in the best-of-3 affair.

"Coming out of the group stage, we had a lot more ambition, and Manama tested us early. We lost the game we shouldn't have in the first [game] there, we lost the game we shouldn't have today," said Chapman.

They still had a chance to salvage a third-place finish and a ticket to the Final 8, but couldn't do so as they fell to the hands of the same team they beat in their final Group Phase game last March 20 to barge straight into the Semis.

Al Hilal finished the season with three consecutive losses but Chapman does not want to make excuses, especially for the way they played against the Emirati crew.

"It hurts," said the 34-year-old, who finished with a full line of 19 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal, and a block in the season-ending loss.

"But you gotta give credit to Shabab Al Ahli. They outplayed us. We have no excuse for the game we played today. We came in here with no ambition, no heart."

It clearly wasn't the way Al Hilal wanted to wrap up their stint but Chapman is nonetheless grateful for the entire experience they had in WASL, adding that the league will only help spur the growth of the game in the region.

"I think it's a great thing for the Gulf. I think it will improve each individual country -- you know, ambition to improve their basketball, and it gives everybody a chance to see who's best over here," said the former Texas Longhorn.

"And when you start to see who's best, teams start to compete, players want to compete at that level, and they start to get better," he added.

And Chapman hopes, too, to experience all that again soon as he felt thrilled to have been part of the league's inaugural competitions.

"It's the best thing for basketball here," the Oregon-native said. "I was excited to be a part of the first season of WASL, for sure. I hope to continue."

FIBA