BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Reclaiming the throne they sat on for two seasons would surely be the main objective of Kuwait Club heading into the 2025-26 FIBA WASL-Gulf League competitions that starts next week.
FIBA WASL history
The long-time Kuwaiti powerhouse won and successfully defended the Sub-Zone League title in the pan-regional tilt's first two editions, and appeared primed for a historic 'three-peat' during the 2024-25 tilt.
Fate, however, had other plans.
In what fans and pundits alike considered as a drastic move, the team decided to let go of long-time coach Peter Schomers ahead of their Game 2 clash versus Ittihad Club in the best-of-3 Qualification to Semi-Finals.
Kuwait Club bowed to the Saudi Arabian squad by way of a narrow 64-63 decision in the win-or-go-home situation, marking the abrupt end of their aspirations of winning the crown for a third consecutive time.
It wasn't actually a bad campaign for the crew prior to getting swept, having finished with a 5-1 record in Group B of the Group Phase. But it marked the very first time in WASL that they didn't finish atop a pool.
That happened after bowing to Shabab Al Ahli in the virtual playoff for the no. 1 seed, 90-83, in their own home floor, and things would spiral for Kuwait Club as they would end the season with three straight losses.
It included that 96-87 defeat to Ittihad in Game 1 of their Qualification to Semi-Finals series, which could be seen as a major turning point to their run as it led to Schomers being given the pink slip - and their eventual exit.
Qualifying path
But a chance to redeem themselves lies ahead in the 2025-26 season, earning yet another trip to the League after conquering the 2024-25 Kuwaiti Division 1 Basketball League by sweeping Kazma in the best-of-5 Final.
Players to watch
The new season ahead would also mark the WASL comeback of Moh Hasan, who missed the entirety of Season 3 due to an injury - an absence which truly affected Kuwait Club as they lost one of their best players.
So, it would be exciting to see him form another solid 1-2 punch with his brother Hamad, both of which have been integral to their success over the past few years including the very recent Arab Basketball Championship.
There, Kuwait Club beat Sagesse SC in the Final, thanks as well to the help of new but seasoned reinforcements set to bolster their bid this season, namely Charlie Moore, Keyshawn Feazell, and Jamal Jones.
Kuwait Club are drawn in Group B of the 2025-26 Gulf League together with Al Arabi SC and a pair of newcomers in Al Ula Club and Sharjah SC. To know more about their upcoming FIBA WASL campaign, click here.
FIBA