BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Expect Al Qadsia SC to enter the upcoming FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) Final 8 with so much to prove after falling short of the ultimate goal during the 2024/2025 Gulf League competitions.
Qualifying path
Among the newcomers this season, the Kuwaiti Division 1 Basketball League outfit made noise when they emerged as the no. 1 seed following a wild race that took place in Group B of their Sub-Zone League.
That led to an outright qualification to the Semi-Finals, giving them ample time to gear up as they awaited - and, of course, closely monitored - their possible opponents through the Qualification to Semi-Finals.
It was just too unfortunate, however, that Qadsia bowed to Ittihad Club in their best-of-3 series that went the limit, losing to a team that ended the two-year reign of Kuwait Club during the Semi-Finals qualifiers.
That deflating result wasted as well the quick trip they had toward the penultimate stage, but the crew refused to see the end of their WASL campaign by salvaging a Third-Place finish after ousting Manama.
And in showing the league's inaugural champions the door, Qadsia booked their entry to this year's Final 8, completing the Gulf League envoy that also has new champions Shabab Al Ahli and Ittihad.
WASL history
Reaching the Final 8 is indeed an achievement in itself for the club, which earned its ticket to the 2024/2025 WASL competitions following a runner-up finish in the 2023/2024 Kuwaiti Division 1 season.
Their entry, moreover, ensured that Kuwait will continue to be represented in the pan-regional competition's culminating event especially after Kuwait Club's shocking exit at the hands of Ittihad.
Players to watch
Still, there's this part of Qadsia believing that they should've made it to the title bout, particularly Sek Henry, who suffered an apparent lower back injury early in the do-or-die Game 3 in the Semi-Finals.
"I just know we should've been in the Final. If I didn't get hurt I just know," said the lefty American winger shortly after beating Manama, in which he starred with 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Henry is without a doubt one of their best players this season - he's their top scorer in the recent Gulf League with 17.6 points per game alongside 5.6 rebounds, and he'd definitely be leaned on come the Final 8.
But this team isn't all about him as there are still other sources of offense for new head coach Javier Munoz, such as veteran big man Chinemelu Elonu (11.8 PPG, 12.9 RPG) and the versatile Johnathan Williams.
Not to be forgotten are the locals led by Mohsen Almosawi, Abdullah Alsaeid, and WASL vet Abdulaziz Alhamidi - all of which are reliable outside shooters and made Qadsia the Gulf League's best 3-point shooing team.
Qadsia are situated in Group B of the Final 8 together with Shabab Al Ahli, WASL:-West Asia League runners-up Tabiat Basketball, and SABA representative Tamil Nadu. To see their complete schedule, click here.
FIBA