DUBAI (United Arab Emirates) - Wael Arakji is done for the BCL Asia 2025.
The Al Riyadi star has been ruled out of the tournament due to the shoulder injury he suffered in their eventual 102-66 win over Zhejiang Guangsha in the Quarter-Finals on Wednesday night at the Coca-Coca Arena.
The team is already without Amir Saoud due to a broken rib he sustained during their game against Homenetmen in the 2025 Lebanese D1 Men’s Basketball Championship days before making the trip to the Emirati city.
It was the reason why they only flew in with 11 players. But now, Coach Ahmad Farran will only have 10 healthy players at his disposal when they take on Shabab Al Ahli in the Semi-Finals on Thursday night.
Game time is set at 17:00 local time still at the state-of-the-art venue, with Arakji to be reduced to a spectator after hurting his right shoulder during the second quarter of their game against the CBA champions.
The lefty playmaker was left clutching on to it at the 8:36-mark of the said period as he tried to attack the defense of opposing big man Xu Zhonghao, only for the latter to stop him with a body bump.
Arakji was visibly disappointed with what happened but still tried to play through it, until the pain was no longer bearable that he sat on the floor with 8:18 on the clock, thus halting the match.
He went into the locker room accompanied by team staff but left the venue just before halftime as he was sent to the hospital for further checking. The team said that it is still waiting for the results of which.
Al Riyadi did manage to come away with the massive victory, still, but concerns have risen over at the status of Arakji after what happened - and of course, what their chances are now in securing a BCL Asia repeat.
It goes without saying that the reigning tournament MVP has been one of their leaders in this year's competition as seen by his per-game norms of 20.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists prior to getting injured.
Eyes will surely be on Shabab Al Ahli if they'd be able to capitalize on this opening in their bid to exact revenge against the same club that beat them in the Final of last year's meet held also in Dubai.
Shabab Al Ahli aced their Quarter-Final test by surviving the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, 92-88.
The other Semi-Finals bracket will feature the BCL Asia-East 2025 champions, the Ulaanbaatar Xac Broncos, taking on the Utsunomiya Brex, the 2024-25 B.League winner, at 20:00 local time.
The Semi-Finals are set on June 12, with the winning sides to meet one another in the Final on June 13.
The losing sides, meanwhile, will vie for a podium finish in the Third-Place Game on the same date.
FIBA