BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Expect the intensity to shift into higher gear as the much awaited Final Phase of the 2025-26 FIBA WASL-Gulf League is all set to commence this week with the Qualification to Semi-Finals.
Four teams will tip off the action, with Kuwait Club and Muharraq raising the curtains on Monday in Kuwait City before Shabab Al Ahli open their title defense bid against Al Arabi SC in Dubai the following night.
But before the two best-of-3 series gets rolling, let's all take a quick look first at some of the compelling storylines fans and observers should watch out for, which would surely add more color to the battles ahead.
Schomers faces ex-team as old foes collide
It's going to be a tad personal for Coach Peter Schomers as he will have to steer the Red Wolves past the very same team he guided to back-to-back WASL-Gulf League titles in the league's first two seasons.
The German bench tactician was surprisingly let go by Kuwait Club in the middle of their Qualification to Semi-Finals series versus Ittihad Club just last season. But months later, he'd find himself in Bahrain.
And it's quite interesting that he joined the same team that actually beat him and the Brigadiers in the past, a 101-96 result in a Group Phase clash which ended their unbeaten 13-game streak in the Sub-Zone League.
The winner between Kuwait Club and Muharraq will meet the Tigers in the Sem-Finals, and that in itself is another layer should Muharraq set it up as Schomers could settle some unfinished business with the Saudi side.
Tough road ahead for defending titlists
For the third time in four campaigns, Shabab Al Ahli find themselves fighting in the Qualification to Semi-Finals. But this time, the pressure is through the roof, as they have to defend the WASL-Gulf League crown.
So, in order to get the chance to keep the title they won last season at Ittihad's expense, they have to go through the play-in first, in which they're going up against a Final Phase first-timer in the Red Devils.
Can they do it? History will tell us that the UAE League Basketball powerhouse is capable. Back in the 2022-23 inaugurals, they outlasted Al Nasr Riyadh in three games to reach the Semi-Finals, eventually finishing third.
They weren't that lucky the following season after being ousted by Muharraq, but bounced back in the 2024-25 tilt when they earned a direct Semi-Finals trip. What kind of story will they write this time? That we have to see.
Two Saudi teams in Semi-Finals
Teams from Saudi Arabia have quite the track record in WASL but this is just the first time ever that two clubs from the country have advanced to the Gulf League Semi-Finals, namely Ittihad and newcomers Al Ahli Club.
Still with a game left to play then, the Tigers were the first to book a direct flight after clinching the no. 1 spot in Group A, and went on to finish with an impressive 5-1 record by denying Kazma a graceful exit.
The Arabian Leopards would follow suit, dealing Al Arabi another beating to prevent any further complication from taking place in a truly tough Group B and completely secure the top position with a 4-2 card.
Will we see an all-Saudi Final?
Arakji, Maker shoot for history
Since we're already talking about Al Ula, two of their stars in Wael Arakji and Thon Maker are worth watching out for as well since they are shooting for history in this maiden journey of theirs in the WASL-Gulf League.
These two have won both the WASL-West Asia League and WASL's ultimate prize during their time in Riyadi and now, they're looking to become just the first players to win all titles should they conquer this Sub-Zone.
Can these WASL MVPs get the job done? Arakji himself has his sights set on leading the upstart ball club and he's optimistic as well of their chances to accomplish as much, as he likes how much they've been growing.
Can Ittihad finish their story?
Much of the attention are drawn on Ittihad if they'd be able to win it all this time after falling short of doing so last season, given the kind of turnaround that the reigning Saudi Basketball League champs did this time.
From having to go through the wringer in which they pulled off a Cinderella run, the crew of Coach Slobodan Subotic showed that they're better than that by, as mentioned, booking an outright Semi-Finals ticket.
But the thing is, Ittihad will have to try doing all that without one of their stars in Mohammed Almarwani, who will be out for a significant amount of time due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
Well they did address that by signing Elijah Thomas and there's no denying how good of a fit he is, but their recent games in the Final Phase, though winning, has left Subotic far from pleased as he yearns for consistency.
How will they take care of that in the Final Phase?
FIBA