GHAZIR (Lebanon) - Domagoj Proleta refused to take any credit whatsoever after leading Al Wahda to their first-ever win in the 2025-26 FIBA WASL-West Asia League by stunning Shahrdari Gorgan Thursday night.
"I just wanted to help the team, that's it," he said shortly after their 101-92 victory at the Ghazir Club Stadium. "I don't look at individual stats. I just try to win the game - this is why we came here to Wahda."
But even with all that humility, there was totally no denying how much of a difference he was, as the Croatian big man's standout performance enabled the Syrian Basketball League outfit to break through - at last.
In only his first game, Proleta led all scorers with 30 points behind 64.3%/50.0%/90.9% shooting splits, alongside 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals as he led the second-quarter reversal that eventually led to win no. 1.
...we will continue this battle until the end.
He scored 11 of his points in the said period, nearly matching their Iran Basketball League counterparts' output by his lonesome as he led their 28-15 scoring spree to build a 54-48 advantage entering the halftime break.
The 27-year-old bruiser wouldn't stop there as he helped put themselves in control for good late in the third canto, joining hands with Falando Jones to build a 76-67 lead just before the chapter came to a close.
And soon, they'd all be celebrating as Al Wahda finally got to taste one after starting the season with five straight losses - some of which were winnable ones, but they just could not find enough gas to close out.
It was, furthermore, only the club's second win in WASL ever after a 74-70 escape against Al Shorta in a WASL-West Asia League Group Phase clash back in November 23, 2023 in Damascus for a successful debut.
"We started very slowly but our game was going; we were adapting very well. Very tough game is now behind us. I'm just really happy that we won," said Proleta. "And we will continue this battle until the end."
To fight until the end will indeed be the mantra of Al Wahda as a collective, for they have no other choice but to sweep their two remaining games in the preliminaries to at least be in contention for the Semi-Finals.
Up next for Coach Petar Aleksic's charges are Sagesse SC (2-4) on the 12th, and current leaders BC Astana (5-1) on the 19th at home. It's not lost on them how challenging those outings could be, but they're unfazed.
"Tough, tough schedule in front of us. But we will believe until the end," offered Proleta. "If we have an opportunity, we will fight until the end."
FIBA