Khajirian excited for a historic day in Asian basketball at WASL Sub-Zone leagues draw

BEIRUT (Lebanon) - There were many basketball fans excited for the draw of the inaugural seasons of the FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) Gulf and West Asia Sub-Zones. Whether they were present at the draw or watching the broadcast from home, there was a lot of excitement in the air.

There was a good reason for all of that excitement as it was certainly a day to remember in Asian basketball.

"This is a very significant day in the history of basketball in Asia," said FIBA Executive Director - Asia, Mr. Hagop Khajirian before the start of the draw.

"I’m as excited as any of you to report this moment, this day in the history of Asian basketball. Today, FIBA Regional Office - Asia takes the first step towards consolidating all the games that have been achieved over the last few years and presenting to the millions of fans a synchronized, sustainable, and systematic competition for clubs that goes hand in hand with FIBA’s strategic goal of developing national teams."

"FIBA’s focus has always been on the development of National Federations and National Teams, but FIBA has acknowledged and respected the impact and importance of national leagues comprising clubs in the evolution of national team."

"Simply put, for a strong National Team to develop, there needs to be a competitive national league. And for clubs and teams participating in national leagues, there needs to be a platform and competition that runs under FIBA umbrella."

"The FIBA West Asia Super League is exactly that. The gathering together of clubs and teams playing in their national leagues, getting an opportunity to take their competitiveness to the next level under the FIBA banner."

The teams playing in the WASL Sub-Zone leagues are coming from 11 countries Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Palestines, Syria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE and will all be competing in the first steps towards spots in the prestigious club competitions in the regional and global level.

Added Khajirian: "Success in the WASL is the stepping stone of the FIBA Asia Champions Cup and at a later stage to the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, makes this effort all the more purposeful and interesting."

"Teams and clubs that will be playing in the West Asia Super League all come from regions that have either shown rapid development in basketball or hold an enormous or immense potential to take basketball to the next level in their countries and thus contribute to the overall progress of the sport in the world. The intra-region rivalry that we witness in any game between any two clubs at any level is enough indication for all of us to feel appetized for the glorious competition we expect on the court."

The Group Phase of WASL in both the West Asia and Gulf Sub-Zones will be played from December 2022 until May 2023. The top 3 teams from each WASL West Asia and WASL Gulf Leagues will be joined by the best teams from South (India) and Central (Kazakhstan) Asia Sub-Zones in the Final 8.

Teams reaching the final of the WASL Final 8 will book their place in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2023, on the road to the Intercontinental Cup, FIBA’s highest club competition.

FIBA