BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Making history has been nothing new to Al Riyadi, most especially in FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) context.
But now, with the Final 8 fast approaching, and with the always-awaited culminating event of the pan-regional tilt happening in their very own turf once more, will the Lebanese powerhouse be able to write more?
Tournament history
The Yellow Castle are coming in as the defending 2-time champions, having conquered the 2024 and 2025 editions to become the first and lone team thus far to achieve a 'back-to-back' feat in this league.
Riyadi have been the gold standard of the WASL-West Asia League as well, having ruled the inaugural edition in 2023 before owning the next two editions to complete just the second 'three-peat' in all of WASL.
Now, the Lebanese Basketball Championship royalty will try to achieve another treble and that would be by winning the upcoming Final 8, a stage in which they have been unbeaten since the 2024 tilt in Qatar.
Riyadi took Doha by storm and went on to snag the ultimate prize via 5-game sweep, capped by a 100-90 overtime win over Sagesse SC in a bout that remains undeniably one of the best WASL games.
They went on to replicate that run in the Final 8 2025 in Zouk Mikael, first by perfecting the Group Phase before rolling past Shabab Al Ahli and Tabiat Basketball in the Final Phase to keep the throne in their possession.
It's also worth noting that Coach Ahmad Farran and his charges finished the 2024-25 festivities with an immaculate overall record of 13-0, becoming the first team to finish a WASL season without a loss.
Sub-Zone League run
That streak, though, has since been snapped during the 2025-26 WASL-West Asia League Group Phase when Riyadi fell to a hot-shooting BC Astana, 86-72, at the Saryarka Velodrome Astana last December 10.
In fact, they've already lost twice this season, the other at the hands of Sagesse through a 105-91 result, marking the Green Castle's first win in the WASL Beirut Derby since the West Asia League 2024 Semi-Finals.
Despite these losses, the defending champs remained the best team in the Sub-Zone League. They still finished as the no. 1 team with a 6-2 record, thus leading the 4-team WASL-West Asia League envoy to the Final 8.
They even finished the preliminaries with back-to-back victories after bowing to Sagesse, beginning with a vengeful 106-57 rout of Astana before repeating against Shahrdari Gorgan by way of a 95-89 decision.
Players to watch
Riyadi did that even without star guard Wael Arakji, who along with star center Thon Maker left the club and joined Al Ula Club of Saudi Arabia, leading to their maiden appearances in the WASL-Gulf League this season.
Fans and observers wondered how the team would fare without the reigning WASL MVP but they clearly did just fine by clinching the no. 1 spot in their Sub-Zone League, eventually keeping their 'three-peat' hopes alive.
And they may have just called in seasoned reinforcements to bolster their bid. As they announced on social media, Riyadi have welcomed back Zach Lofton, who helped the club rule the 2024 BCL Asia in Dubai.
They also signed former NBA pro Donovan Williams and Nick West, who's been a WASL veteran himself after previously suiting up for Gulf League sides Shabab Al Ahli in 2023 and for Muharraq Club just this season.
Will these troika, together with the vaunted local crew, help Al Riyadi make it 3 in a row?
FIBA