BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Eyes will be on Tabiat Basketball if they could accomplish what their predecessors could not as they vie for FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) glory in the upcoming Final 8 2025.
Qualifying path
The reigning Iran Basketball League champions are among the newcomers in the WASL-West Asia League season but each and everyone in the team knows the kind of responsibility they have to carry in this foray.
It's because the proud nation has had some solid representation in the pan-regional competition, with Shahrdary Gorgan attaining the best finish for an Iranian side when they took home the bronze in last year's Final 8.
It's also worth noting that Gorgan were the runners-up in the Sub-Zone League twice in as many stints, and their Third-Place feat proved to be their ticket to the BCL Asia inaugurals, where they finished fourth.
And it's safe to say that Tabiat have done their part to make sure that Iran will continue their winning tradition in this league. Like Gorgan, they also finished second in the 2025 WASL-West Asia League in Zouk Mikael.
The wards of Coach Mehran Shahintab accomplished as much following a thrilling 75-73 victory over Sagesse SC in a virtual knockout for the said placing, leaving the Lebanese contenders settling for third.
That result completed the WASL-West Asia League envoy to the Final 8, with 'three-peat' winners Al Riyadi leading the way and Sagesse the other as the three continued the streaks of Lebanon and Iran to the event.
WASL history
Reaching the Final 8 is indeed an achievement in itself for Tabiat, who earned their ticket to this season's WASL after clinching the 2024 championship in their domestic league by actually beating Gorgan.
They wasted no time announcing their arrival, beating Sagesse and then Amman United Club in their first two games for a quick head start. Eventually, the crew would finish the tournament with a 5-3 record.
Players to watch
It should no longer be a surprise why Tabiat impressed in just their first WASL campaign. Take a quick look at their roster and you'd see familiar names that have taken part in the competition in previous years.
Leading the 'returnees' are star guard Sina Vahedi and Arman Zangeneh, both of which had played for Gorgan and Zob Ahan, respectively. There's also Amir Golizadeh, who had seen action for both ball clubs.
Vahedi has been of WASL's top players and this season was no different, as evidenced by his impressive per-game averages of 17.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.4 steals in 32.1 minutes of play.
But it isn't just the locals that came in armed with league experience. They signed up Perry Petty, who served as one of the major forces behind Gorgan's campaign during the 2022/2023 inaugurals.
Petty is one of their three reinforcements, the others being Ivan Buva and Stedmon Lemon. Buva himself was their top scorer in the recent WASL-West Asia League with 20.9 PPG alongside 10.5 RPG.
Tabiat are drawn in Group B together with WASL-Gulf League champions Shabab Al Ahli, WASL-Gulf League Third-Placers Al Qadsia SC, and SABA representative Tamil Nadu. To see their complete schedule, click here.
FIBA