ZOUK MIKAEL (Lebanon) - When the moment came, Keron DeShields didn't hesitate. With the clock ticking down and two defenders in his face, he rose up and buried a step-back three with 2.3 seconds left - a dagger that lifted Al Ittihad past BC Astana, 79-76, and into the win column of the FIBA WASL Final 8.
I think today, it was a big win for the club and also for the country of Saudi Arabia.
It was a shot that silenced the Stade Nouhad Naufal. But it was also a statement - for his team, for his coach, and for a basketball culture growing in Saudi Arabia.
"It means a lot to me to represent Saudi Arabia and also my city of Baltimore," DeShields said postgame. "It was fun, it was exciting, and I'm glad we pulled out in the end. I'm glad my teammates trusted me to make that last shot.
"I knew when I released it, it was good."
The 32-year-old point guard was electric all night, finishing with 24 points and 8 rebounds while playing the full 40 minutes. It was a masterclass in leadership and poise, punctuated by arguably the biggest shot of Ittihad's WASL season.
"He tell me this every time," DeShields said, smiling, as head coach Slobodan Subotic recounted his trust in his floor general. "We missed a couple of times [this season], and he says just keep the ball. He gave me confidence like he always does. He says just keep the ball, no matter what happens and live with the results.
"I've missed two or three opportunities before and coach still trusted me with the basketball.
"This one went in."
That unwavering trust is mutual. Subotic, who's been pushing his squad all season to defend with pride and play with heart, knows what he has in DeShields: a true leader, a closer, and a player who understands the moment.
The numbers in this game back that up, too. Not only did Deshields knock down the three most important points of the game, he also dished out 12 assists - setting the WASL Final 8 single-game record.
"This guy changed our team, really," said Subotic back in January. "He's the coach on the court."
DeShields joined Ittihad in December, fulfilling a personal dream of playing in WASL after following the league from afar. Since then, he's become the heartbeat of a team that has defied expectations - reaching the WASL-Gulf Finals and now making history in the Final 8 by giving a Saudi Arabian club its first-ever win on the league's biggest stage.
"I think today, it was a big win for the club and also for the country of Saudi Arabia," DeShields said. "I think we represented well. We did a great job. Hats off to Coach and to my teammates."
The win didn't come easy. Ittihad, coming off a tough loss to Sagesse, had to respond. They built a six-point lead late in the fourth behind local standouts Mathna and Mohammed Almarwani, only to see Astana claw back to tie. But DeShields, once again, had the last word.
It was the latest chapter in a season full of big moments for the Baltimore native. From his game-saving buckets against Al Arabi to his key assists in Gulf League elimination games, DeShields has made a habit of stepping up when it matters most - and always with the bigger picture in mind.
"This right here was for Jeddah, and for Saudi Arabia," he said earlier this year after ending Kuwait Club's Gulf League reign.
For DeShields, every shot and every win carries meaning beyond the box score. It's about pride. It's about respect. And more than anything, it’s about growth - for himself, for Ittihad, and for Saudi basketball.
"The job is not finished and we’re going to give our hardest effort next game, no matter the results," he said. "We're going to keep our heads up and we’re going to keep pushing forward and play hard and play together."
FIBA