BEIRUT (Lebanon) – Club pride will be on the line at the FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) Final 8 - but national team ambitions won’t be far behind. With the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 drawing closer, several players will use this elite stage to sharpen their game, build rhythm, and make their case for selection.
From proven veterans to rising names, these hopefuls aren't just chasing WASL titles - they’re playing for a shot at Asia's biggest stage.
Host nation, heavy representation
With Saudi Arabia set to host the Asia Cup in 2025, all eyes will be on Al Ittihad Jeddah, who bring a stacked group of national team talent. Veterans Mohammed Almarwani, Fahad Belal, Mathna Almarwani, Nasser Alabsi are joined by rising talents Abdulrahman Fallata, and Mohammed Kadi - all of whom featured in the Asia Cup Qualifiers.
Mohammed Almarwani, a mainstay in the Saudi frontcourt, averaged 10.7 points and 7.2 rebounds during the Qualifiers and will look to maintain that production as Ittihad tries to push for WASL silverware.
Lebanon's core on display
The Lebanon national team are undergoing a golden run, and much of that core will be in action across two powerhouses - Al Riyadi and Sagesse SC.
Asia Cup 2022 MVP Wael Arakji headlines the list after averaging 20.2 points and 6.0 assists during the Qualifiers. He's joined by fellow veterans Amir Saoud, Hayk Gyokchyan, and Ali Mansour, along with sharpshooting wing Karim Zeinoun - all key cogs in Lebanon's plans for 2025.
Sagesse counters with emerging national team talent like Jad Khalil, Gerard Hadidian, and Marc Khoueiry, while Omar Jamaleddine represents the next wave of prospects pushing for rotation minutes at the senior level.
Iran's steady engine
Several of Iran's Asia Cup Qualifiers contributors will line up for Tabiat at the Final 8. Guards Sina Vahedi and Rasoul Mozafari, alongside forwards Arman Zangeneh and Hasan Aliakbari, give Iran a dependable, experienced spine.
Vahedi stood out in the Qualifiers with 11.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, and continues to trend upward. He averaged 17.1 points, 4.0 assists, and 5.3 rebounds in his debut season with Tabiat - and remains one to watch under playoff pressure.
India's rising core
Tamil Nadu brings a young and exciting group of Indian national team hopefuls to the Final 8. Muin Bek Hafeez, Pranav Prince, and Arvind Muthu Krishnan all played important roles during the Asia Cup Qualifiers, while Baladhaneshwar Poiyamozhi and Prashant Rawat are names to watch as India builds toward a more competitive core.
Prince, especially, stood out with averages of 10.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in national duty, while contributing 13.7 points per game during last season's WASL Final 8.
FIBA