BEIRUT (Lebanon) - One of the 2025-26 FIBA West Asia Super League season's most exciting teams will now be shooting for the ultimate prize as Al Ula Club are all set to roll in the Final 8 that opens this weekend.
Sub-Zone League run
The Saudi Basketball League outfit was one of the league's debutants this season and they easily drew so much attention by fielding in a team bannered by 3 of the biggest names in the continental club scene.
The Arabian Leopards picked up WASL MVPs Wael Arakji and Thon Maker, the same stars that led Al Riyadi to a successful title defense last season, as well as former Sagesse SC gunslinger Jonathan Gibson.
Behind this celebrated troika, Al Ula clinched the no. 1 seed in Group B with a 4-2 win-loss record. And their victories came in dominant fashion, as they beat their opponents by an average margin of 23.25 points.
The loaded squad not only impressed in WASL but at home as well. Al Ula almost went perfect in the 2025-26 Saudi Basketball League, winning 17 of their 18 games to capture their first-ever league championship.
Players to watch
The kind of success they enjoyed was massive thanks to the 'Big 3,' all of whom hardly needed time to adjust with the games of one another due to the numerous battles they've had in the past - in Lebanon and in WASL.
But the trio is no more.
Arakji, Maker, and Gibson signed for only one season with the rising ball club, and the latter has since moved on from them - but not before expressing their utmost gratitude for everything they've done for them.
The Arabian Leopards' top brass then buckled down to work to find suitable replacements, and their search ended after landing seasoned reinforcements, bannered by Australia Boomers standout Mitch Creek.
The former NBA winger came in armed with extensive pro experience, having played - and won - at home and in various parts of the world such as in Puerto Rico, China, Canada, Turkey, and most recently in Romania.
Also a 2017 FIBA Asia Cup champion, Clark will be joined by former USC Trojan Elijah Stewart and French point guard David Michineau, both of whom have seen action in the Basketball Champions League in Europe.
But it's not just their stable of imports which Al Ula strengthened. The club also picked up former Ittihad Club vet Mohammad Almarwani, who's set to make his comeback from an ACL injury he suffered late last year.
Lest we forget that they still have star big man Mo Alsuwailem, who's coming off a memorable run with Saudi Arabia in Window 4 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers just last August.
Will this rejigged Al Ula team make some noise in Zouk Mikael?
FIBA