ZOUK MIKAEL (Lebanon) - Al Riyadi captured the provisional lead in the 2025-26 FIBA WASL-West Asia League following a convincing 113-89 victory over Al Wahda SC at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex, Thursday.
Showing how much they have learned from their previous meeting last November 6, the reigning champions quickly took the lead to seize control early in a total reversal of what happened the last time out.
They then broke away for good in the third quarter, leaving their Syrian foes without any answer to eventually win their second game in a row since losing to an old tormentor in BC Astana on the road last December 10.
The Lebanese powerhouse have now improved to 4-1 in the standings, breaking a three-way logjam with Shahrdari Gorgan and the Kazakhstan representatives as the trio were all tied at 3-1 entering Thursday's duel.
With the latest result, the Iranian side is now sitting at no. 2 by their lonesome and Astana at third. The former has the head-to-head advantage after reigning triumphant in their first meeting last November 13, 91-75.
"Our target is to finish first in the regular season in order to have the homecourt advantage in the Semi-Finals. This is our aim. Hopefully, we can continue this," said head coach Ahmad Farran. "All the praise to my players."
Seven players finished in double figures in the triumph, with Maurice Kemp bannering the balanced attack with 27 points behind a 12-of-16 shooting from the floor, alongside 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal.
New acquisition Nuni Omot was impressive in his WASL debut with 17 points, including 8 in the first half as he helped out in their second-quarter charge. The South Sudanese big had 6 rebounds and 3 assists as well.
Amir Saoud fired 15 points, spiked by a pair of three-pointers, together with 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. Perrin Buford made 14 points and 6 rebounds plus three steals, while Bilal Tabbara supplied 13 points.
Al Mansour notched a double-double with 12 points and 11 assists, with Hayk Gyokchyan adding an 11-5-5 stat line for Riyadi, who shot an excellent 63.9-percent from the field thanks hugely to their 30 assists.
"We learned our lessons from the first game against Al Wahda. It was a good win," offered Farran, who was proud of his team's effort as a collective despite missing a key cog in Karim Zeinoun due to the flu.
Al Wahda, on the other hand, fell to their fifth loss in as many games.
Wasted by yet another defeat was the sterling performance of James Justice, Jr., who went 9-of-11 from three-point distance for 29 points. The crafty guard also collected 5 rebounds and 10 assists in 38 minutes.
Falando Jones supported him with 18 points, while CJ Maran added 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists as the crew of Coach Wael Badr couldn't at least replicate the gallant stand they showed in the first match.
FIBA