ASTANA (Kazakhstan) - Shahrdari Gorgan and BC Astana are finally due for their highly anticipated rematch as the 2025-26 FIBA WASL-West Asia League returns to action this week at the Saryarka Velodrome here.
The two were supposed to meet last January 15 but unavoidable circumstances led to the game's postponement, but a new date has been set and they will now be duking it out this Friday at the Kazakh capital.
Astana have the homecourt advantage this time around and they're surely eyeing to make good use of that, especially after being on the receiving end of a 91-75 beating in their previous match last November 13.
That result also evened things out in their WASL head-to-head, with the Iran Basketball League champions gaining a measure of payback after losing in their Final 8 encounter back in the 2023 inaugurals in Dubai.
But their upcoming clash would be more than just a rematch, or whoever gets the mental edge anew.
As of the moment, both Gorgan and Astana are tied at 3-1 in the standings, with the two of them sitting behind four-peat seekers Al Riyadi who are still at no. 1 with a 4-2 record despite losing to Sagesse SC.
So, whoever wins between them would seize solo seconds, a goal that both sides are keen on attaining especially with the WASL-West Asia League Group Phase about to head into its home stretch.
Gorgan would definitely be banking on the big triumph they posted in their last match, but a lot has changed since then. Astana would go on to win their next three games, thus rising as a legitimate contender this season.
That's because one of the teams they beat to build the winning streak they have now was none other than the Yellow Castle, by way of a convincing 86-72 win last December 10 at the Velodrome as well.
The two-time WASL-West Asia runners-up would go on a three-game winning run as well, but that ended at the hands of, coincidentally, Riyadi last December 17 no thanks to a Hayk Gyokchyan buzzer-beater.
Needless to say, it's going to be one thrilling clash ahead in Kazakhstan, one that should also serve as a solid curtain-raiser as the Sub-Zone League gets rolling once again following a two-week break.
For the complete 2025-26 WASL-West Asia League schedule, click here.
FIBA