BANGKOK (Thailand) - Experience will be highlighted at the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2019 title game as 2018 finalists Alvark Tokyo make their return to face 2-time champion Al RIyadi. The game is scheduled to be played 18:00 (GMT +7) at GSB Stadium29.

Before we get to find out who will be the winners of the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2019, let’s take a quick look at the contestants.

Alvark Tokyo

Alvark Tokyo were on the final stage of the FIBA Asia Champions Cup last year as well, giving all they had against previous Iranian champions Petrochimi. The game came down to the final minute where Alvark unfortunately ended up on the losing side.

Now they have made their way back to the Asia Champions Cup Finals once again, hoping to turn around the result. The journey hasn’t been easy, even before making it here to Thailand to play in the Group Phase, but the important thing is that they are here.

“It’s not easy to be a champion of Japan,” Coach Luka Pavicevic said after Alvark’s Semi-finals win.

“To earn the privilege to be in this tournament, the team has to win championship in Japan and we did that twice. We feel privilege to be in this tournament two times, especially two times to earn the privilege of going to the Final.

“Playing in the Final is satisfying by itself, but it’s painful when losing. Last year, we lost in the last minute to Petrochimi and it was a painful experience. So I tell to my players, once we put ourselves as a candidate as a champion, we need to be focused and ready to compete.”

Coach Pavicevic prides on the fact that Alvark are one of the best defensive teams in Japan and that proves to be true even among the best of Asia in this competition. They have allowed only 73.5 points per game to their opponents, among the top of the FIBA Asia Champions Cup this year.

2018 All-Star Five member Alex Kirk has been the main muscle of the team in their campaign this year, putting up the expect big numbers of 17.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game leading up to the championship match. But even when he struggles, Alvark has backup ready to step up.

One player in particular that has shined is Genki Kojima. The 25-year-old guard has hit some big time shots over the course of this competition, including multiple daggers in their win over Naft Abadan.

“I just stay ready for every single shot not matter when it is, beginning of the game or end of the game, it doesn’t matter to me,” Kojima said. “I’m just ready for every single shot and then it came to me at a good moment. That’s what happened.”

Kojima is averaging 11.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game this year, all upgrades from his stats during last year’s run to the Final. He’s been working hard to become a larger part of the rotation, now with a chance to further prove his worth with a championship on the line.

“That’s something I’m trying to do throughout this season from the beginning,” Kojima said of embracing his extended role. “Especially in this team, it’s tough to navigate [through the rotation] to be honest. There are really good players, so I’m really determined to do that and that’s something I’m trying to do to get better.”

History was already made last year when Alvark had the best finish ever by a club from Japan at the FIBA Asia Champions Cup by making it to the Final. Now they have a shot at doubling down and breaking their own record by winning it all.

Al Riyadi

The FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2017 winners Al Riyadi have completed quite a turnaround, after dropping all the way to a 7th placed finish in 2018. They were focused on “erasing the sad memories of 2018”  and all that is left now is to win one more game.

“It’s been a tough journey for us, starting from the Group Phase,” said coach Ahmad El Farran. “I’m so happy we are in the Final. This is what we wanted from the beginning.

“We fought hard for this and I’m proud of my players.”

The road to the Final for Riyadi has been a roller-coaster, seemingly having to overcome the odds for each win along the way. Whether it was an overtime win against Hyundai Mobis, a game-winning buzzer-beater against Alvark Tokyo, a tight game to the final seconds the against Guangdong Southern Tigers, or digging themselves out of a 12-point deficit to beat Muharraq in the Semi-finals; Riyadi has pulled through and displayed they mental toughness time and again.

They have “fought like champions” and “showed the character of a champion”, now is the time to become a champion.

Standing in their way of a 3rd FIBA Asia Champions Cup title to tie for most in competition history are Alvark Tokyo.

“It’s going to be a big final with two big teams,” Coach El Farran said. “These are two ambitious teams looking forward to win. I think Alvark Tokyo is going to be looking to win for the first time and for Riyadi its going the be the third time. It’ll be a good record for the club and for the whole country, so we are coming here to play to fight and why not again be champions after 2017.”

Al Riyadi might have a slight psychological edge after having already beaten Alvark in the Group Phase, 77-75. It was a tight game from start to finish, a fact that star Riyadi guard Willie Warren expects to fire up his opponents even more.

“I expect them to come out even harder than the first time,” Warren said. “They fought extremely hard as we did and it came down to two shots. They hit on the backboard to tie it up and our amazing point guard hit one to end the game.

“I’m pretty sure they still have bitter taste in the mouth from that.”

That “amazing point guard” is Wael Arakji who is living up to his teammate’s hype, putting up an MVP-caliber performance with 27.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. After missing out the 2018 edition of the competition with an injury, Arakji has been making up for lost time by leading the charge for Riyadi through to the Final.

Captain Jean Abd El Nour has also been crucial to the run, averaging a double-double of 13.3 points and 12.3 rebounds per game. The 35-year-old club mainstay was making important plays left and right in the Semi-finals game, earning high praise from his opponent and former teammate Mike Harris of Muharraq.

“It all starts with the captain, Jean [Abd El Nour],” said Harris.

“I mean [the] guy’s amazing! I played with him before, he just does all the little things.”

“He’s the most unselfish player I’ve ever met.”

Riyadi are currently the highest scoring team in the competition, averaging 90.0 points per game. They will be going up against one of the stingiest teams at the FIBA Asia Champions Cup in Alvark Tokyo.

One team is looking to claim their first Asia Champions Cup title ever to avenge last year’s loss while another is hoping to rebound from disappointment to earn their club’s 3rd title. Both teams will be playing to advance towards the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2020. This could very well be one of the best FIBA Asia Champions Cup Final yet.

FIBA