TEHRAN (Iran), ASTANA (Kazakhstan) - Keeping their record intact will be the main objective when Shahrdari Gorgan take on Al Riyadi in another meeting between two perennial FIBA WASL contenders this Wednesday.
Game time is set at 18:30 local time, with the defending Iran Basketball League champions keen on registering their fourth win in as many games to maintain their status as the Sub-Zone League's no. 1 team.
Coach Saleh Makhdoomi's charges have been the standard so far this season, beginning their unbeaten run with an escape against Sagesse SC before winning their next two against BC Astana and Al Wahda SC.
Standings entering this week:
Soon, they could extend their best start since last competing in WASL back in the 2023-24 competitions against an old tormentor, who's coming in bent to get back on track after a shock loss the last time out.
The WASL-West Asia League 'four-peat' seekers absorbed a 75-62 defeat against the club from Kazakhstan last week, which snapped their 15-game winning streak in the Sub-Zone League's Group Phase.
It could be something that Gorgan may take advantage of morale-wise but the squad knows, too, that it won't be easy to do, since the Lebanese powerhouse have history on their side in this particular head-to-head.
In the eight times they've competed against one another in the pan-regional tilt, Riyadi have won six, including back-to-back two-game sweeps in the WASL-West Asia League Final during the first two editions.
Coach Ahmad Farran & Co. indeed have the mental edge but that, for sure, will be put to the test, especially with many curious to see how they'd respond as a collective after bowing to the now-surging Astana.
Astana are now winners of back-to-back games after that, and are definitely looking to make it three in a row when they host Al Wahda at the Saryarka Velodrome on Thursday - set for a 19:30 local time tip-off.
Homecourt has truly become an advantage for the Central Asia representatives as they've built their ongoing streak in their own turf, marking a solid turnaround for a team that suffered a bitter season debut.
And this week, they'll try to show as much once more against their Syrian counterparts, who for their part are hoping to overcome an electric crowd to net their first-ever win of the tourney as they're currently 0-3.
FIBA