BEIRUT (Lebanon) - No one saw Ittihad Club coming - but that’s exactly how they liked it.
In a season that began with modest expectations and more questions than answers, the Saudi giants from Jeddah turned every setback into fuel and every game into a statement. From a shaky Group Stage to knocking out the defending champions and staging the first-ever Semi-Finals reverse sweep in WASL Gulf League history, Ittihad’s road to the Final 8 reads like a basketball fairytale - written in grit, heart, and belief.
Qualifying path
Ittihad Club’s debut season in the FIBA WASL-Gulf League was anything but conventional.
They began their journey as Saudi Basketball League runners-up and the Jeddah-based club wasted no time making an impression. They hammered Al Arabi SC in their opener before slipping to a 2-4 record in the tightly contested Group B - only enough for third place.
But that’s when the real story began. In the Qualification to Semi-Finals, Ittihad did the unthinkable, dethroning two-time defending champions Kuwait Club with a 2-0 sweep. Then came their reverse sweep of Al Qadsia SC in the Semi-Finals, a series that saw them claw back from an 0-1 deficit to win in three games, becoming the first WASL team to complete such a feat at that stage. Though they fell to Shabab Al Ahli in the Finals, Ittihad’s runner-up finish secured their Final 8 berth.
WASL history
2024/2025 marks Ittihad Club’s first-ever stint in FIBA WASL - and what an entrance they made.
The 16-time Saudi champions were originally known for their domestic dominance, but this season, they took that legacy to the continental stage. Their run through the Gulf League was defined by dramatic finishes, comeback victories, and resilient team play, all of which have quickly established them as a team no one can take lightly in the Final 8.
Key players this season
Ittihad’s magical run owes much to the consistent excellence of Keron DeShields and Tevin Mack. DeShields, who joined midseason, immediately became the squad’s emotional and tactical leader. His clutch performances -including a 34-point explosion in Game 3 against Qadsia and a game-winning assist to Mathna Almarwani in the Kuwait Club series - were instrumental in Ittihad’s playoff surge.
Mack, signed after Makur Maker’s injury, emerged as a revelation. Undersized for his position, he routinely outworked bigger opponents, averaging 18.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game in the Semi-Finals. His hustle, rebounding, and scoring touch have filled a vital gap in the frontcourt.
Mathna Almarwani, a Saudi national team staple, also stepped up in key moments, including a series-clinching basket against Kuwait Club. Veterans like Mohammed Almarwani, Osama Albargawi, and Suleiman Braimoh provided leadership and experience throughout the campaign.
FIBA