KUWAIT CITY (Kuwait) - Taking the lead in their respective groups will be the main objective of three ball clubs in particular as the 2025-26 FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) heads into its third week.
Kazma and Ittihad will be duking it out for the pole position in Group A, while Al Ula will try to post their second win in as many games when they take on Kuwait Club in a battle between Group B favorites.
Both Gulf League games will be at the Shaikh Saad Alabdullah Sport Hall Complex in the Kuwaiti capital.
Action begins on Monday with Kazma hosting last season's Sub-Zone League runners-up at 19:00 local time, looking to start a WASL season with back-to-back victories for the first time in team history.
Yes, this is already the third campaign of the orange-clad side in four editions of the pan-regional competition but never have they ever begun at 2-0, but now a chance to change the narrative lies in front of them.
The 2023-24 WASL-Gulf League third-placers are coming in with sky-high confidence after opening their season with a 95-81 victory over Muharraq, and they would love to sustain as much against the Saudi Arabian side.
But even the Tigers themselves are entering the clash confident especially after upending no less than the defending Sub-Zone League titlists Shabab Al Ahli in a rematch of the previous Final to open the season.
Their 94-88 win was headlined by Erick Neal as the seasoned guard emerged as the league's assists king after setting a record 17 dimes along with 25 points and 6 rebounds - all that in his WASL debut.
And yes, they all want to go 2-0 as well for the first time after failing to do so last season - they actually began their maiden run on a high note by beating Al Arabi SC in Jeddah, only to lose their next two matches.
Now, it's just going to be a matter of who can get to their target first.
Tuesday night, meanwhile, will see another Kuwait-versus-Saudi clash as Al Ula will look to snare the solo lead in Group B when they take on the former two-time WASL-Gulf League winners at 19:00 local time.
One of the league's newcomers, Al Ula wasted no time sending a strong statement to the rest of the field by crushing another debutant in Sharjah SC, 108-74, behind star guards Wael Arakji and Jonathan Gibson.
Gibson set a new league record 10 threes for 38 points, while Arakji finished with 35 as the two finally got to play alongside one another after fierce battles in Lebanon that spilled over to the WASL-West Asia League.
Needless to say, the two - together with Thon Maker - will try to replicate or perhaps better their showings when Al Ula take on a perennial contender, which is hoping to protect their own turf and get win no. 1.
Kuwait Club lost to Al Arabi at home last week by way of an 83-78 decision, marking the first time ever that they lost a WASL season opener after winning all of their opening games during the previous three seasons.
To see the complete 2025-26 FIBA WASL-Gulf League Group Phase schedule, click here.
FIBA