ZOUK MIKAEL (Lebanon) - Al Ula Club salvaged a third-place finish in the FIBA West Asia Super League 2026 by repeating against Kuwait Club, 93-79, on Sunday evening at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex.
Fighting for pride after getting foiled by 'three-peat' seekers Al Riyadi in the Semi-Finals, the Arabian Leopards got going in the third and pulled away wide to eventually give Saudi Arabia their best finish ever in this tilt.
No ball club from the country had managed to go this far in the Final 8 until the WASL-Gulf League competitors came in and changed the narrative in without a doubt an impressive campaign for a newcomer.
"Of course, I'm proud. But I couldn't do it alone. This is a result of the hard work that the management and the players put ... This team is built to be at the podium," offered head coach Izzat Ismail proudly.
Mitch Creek saved his best for last and finished with 30 points and 8 rebounds for an efficiency of 32 to lead Al Ula to the podium.
The lefty winger was essential in the breakaway, nearly matching the opposition's total output in the period as he contributed 7 points to their 25-8 assault that turned a 5-point halftime lead to 76-56 entering the fourth.
Elijah Stewart delivered 24 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals, as he and Creek combined for 7 of the team's 14 steals in the win.
Star center Mo Alsuwailem, one of this season's more consistent producers, notched 22 points and 12 rebounds to win his first WASL medal - indeed a sweet comeback for one of the league's pioneers with Al Hilal.
Kuwait Club, on the other hand, were led by Chinanu Onuaku with 23 points and 10 rebounds in the defeat, which prolonged their medal drought for a third straight season after copping silver back in 2023.
The Brigadiers actually took the lead early in the second period but Al Ula turned it around, and then unleashed a 14-3 assault - capped by an Alsuwailem and-one play - for a 70-55 lead with 3:29 left in the third canto.
And the game would never be in question since, with the charges of Ismail leading by as many as 21 points, as the Kuwaitis went on to suffer another rout to this same club and fell to 1-2 in their WASL head-to-head.
Dae Dae Grant made 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 10 assists. Hamad Hasan added 12 points as they finished at fourth place, similar to 2024.
FIBA