ZOUK MIKAEL (Lebanon) - Al Riyadi began their quest for a 'three-peat' in the FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) Final 8 2026 in rousing fashion by dealing Indian Railways a 104-81 beating on Saturday night.
The Yellow Castle turned things around late in the second chapter, and then broke away come the ensuing period to completely seize control of the match after figuring in a tough exchange early against the newcomers.
In fact, the home team found themselves staring at a 35-38 deficit during the second quarter that casted a cloud of anxiety inside the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex, but they managed to find - and flip - the switch.
The trio of Nick West, Zach Lofton, and Donovan Williams came together and orchestrated a 19-4 assault to build a 54-42 cushion entering the intermission, never to lift their foot off the gas pedal all the way to the end.
Riyadi even led by as many as 26 points, leaving head coach Ahmad Farran totally satisfied considering that this was their first game together as they did not have the luxury of getting reps prior to the tourney.
"This was our first official game. We didn't play friendly games. So, we expected to start slowly. But we improved during the game, we played good defense," he offered. "We managed to kill the game at the right time."
Williams top-scored for the victors with 28 points, which he laced with 12 rebounds, 1 steal, and a pair of blocks. West finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds as well, as both men tallied an efficiency of 28 apiece.
Lofton, who's back with the club he helped take home the 2024 BCL Asia crown, made 16 points in his return. Naim Rabay provided the spark off the bench with 11 points, as 4 players finished in double figures in the win.
"We are satisfied. We have room to improve. Hopefully on Monday, we go and play better," said Farran, as they will be taking on a truly familiar foe in Kuwait Club (1-0) on Monday, September 28, at 20:45 local time.
The Brigadiers beat Ittihad Club earlier, 105-97.
Darlinstone Dubar, on the other hand, finished with 23 points and 7 rebounds to lead the Railways in the defeat, which extended SABA's winless streak in the pan-regional competition to 4 games now.
Tim Dalger made 18 points and 9 rebounds. Former Sagesse SC big man Cleanthony Early also had 18 although that output of his could've gone bigger had he not been disqualified from the game during the third.
The ex-NBA pro was assessed with a technical foul at the 2:28-mark of the said quarter, which was also his 5th and last foul of the ball game. Lofton then made the technical freebie to stretch their lead to 77-58.
"We got into foul trouble," lamented coach Rajan Sharma. "Arvinder Singh fouled out. Princepal Singh had 4 fouls. Early got ejected. And we didn't control the boards. We really need to be good on the defensive boards."
The Railways will next face Ittihad on Monday as well in a battle of teams looking to break through.
FIBA