DUBAI (United Arab Emirates) - Al Riyadi will go for broke in an attempt to keep the crown in Manara as they take on Utsunomiya in what should be a thrilling BCL Asia 2025 Final on Friday, June 13, at the Coca-Cola Arena.
Game time is set at 20:00 local time, with eyes drawn to the defending champions on whether or not they'd be able to finish the job given that they are already without Wael Arakji and Amir Saoud no thanks to injuries.
It's actually been the biggest question mark among fans and pundits alike when the crew flew into the 'City of Gold' without 'The Prince' and Marin Maric as they got hurt during the Lebanese Basketball Championship.
As if their absences weren't enough, the Yellow Castle no longer have their main man in the rotation after getting hurt in their eventual win over the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions in the Quarter-Finals last Wednesday.
But if it's any indication, the remaining players have given head coach Ahmad Farran more reason to remain optimistic despite their tough predicament with how they showed up in the Semi-Finals.
A total of five players finished in double figures to bring the 100-78 win over Shabab Al Ahli, with Hayk Gyokchyan finishing with 24 points and 11 rebounds and Ali Mansour flirting with history after tallying a 20-9-9 stat line.
The Lebanon men's team stalwarts played key roles in their second-half surge, which saw Riyadi take control in the third before pulling away for good in the fourth to beat an opponent that's become so familiar with them.
Because it was Shabab Al Ahli which they crushed to win the BCL Asia inaugurals last year, and defeated in the Semi-Finals of the FIBA WASL Final 8 2025 as well to eventually complete a rare 'three-peat' in the league.
But now they take on a foe which they've never played before, a bunch that wants no less than an upset against a team that's coming into the Final in the midst of a 16-game winning streak in the FIBA club circuit.
Bannered by DJ Newbill and Makoto Hiejima, the Brex are aiming to cap off their season with gold from Asia's highest club competition, their confidence stemming from winning the 2024-25 B.League championship.
Plus, they're coming in fiery. After bowing to the Meralco Bolts in their first game, Coach Zico Coronel's men bounced back against Shabab Al Ahli, and then shot down Ulaanbaatar Xac in the Quarter-Finals.
It was against the Broncos in which they tallied the most three-pointers in a single game in the BCL Asia in a decade by knocking down 19 in total - including seven in the first quarter alone - toward the 93-71 rout.
Needless to say, Utsunomiya would want to emulate their impressive outside showing against Riyadi and give themselves the chance to give Japan their first title in the tournament since 2019.
So, will the trophy stay in Lebanon? Or will it go to a new home?
Meanwhile, Shabab Al Ahli and the Broncos will have one final opportunity to salvage a podium finish as the two clubs are scheduled to face one another in the Third-Place Game set at 17:00 local time.
FIBA