BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Shabab Al Ahli arrive at the 2024/25 FIBA WASL Final 8 not just as Gulf League champions, but as a team that has finally broken through after years of waiting.
Long considered one of the region’s sleeping giants, the UAE powerhouse endured near-misses and postseason heartbreaks in previous seasons. But with a new coach, a retooled core, and an unrelenting belief, the storied Dubai club has transformed into one of WASL’s most complete and dangerous teams - now ready to chase the continental crown.
Qualifying path
After years of knocking on the door, Shabab Al Ahli finally kicked it down.
The UAE powerhouse clinched their first-ever WASL-Gulf League title in the 2024/25 season by sweeping Ittihad Club in the Finals, capping off an undefeated postseason run. Their road to glory included finishing as the #1 in the standings of Group A (5-1) and then ousting defending WASL Gulf champs Manama in the Semi-Finals - a massive breakthrough for the club.
New head coach Miodrag Perisic took over before the New Year and immediately turned the tide. Under his leadership, Shabab Al Ahli went undefeated (6-0) all the way through through the Final Phase, overcoming past heartbreaks and finally capturing the title. They now enter the Final 8 as the Gulf League’s top team, with momentum, maturity, and a mission.
WASL history
As a team in the inaugural edition of FIBA WASL, Shabab Al Ahli’s early seasons were defined by unfulfilled potential. In 2022/23, they reached the Gulf League Semi-Finals but were swept by Kuwait Club. In 2023/24, they didn’t make it past the Qualification to Semi-Finals, bowing to Muharraq.
But they took a giant leap in the inaugural Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) as hosts, finishing runners-up to Al Riyadi - a run that shocked the region and showed they could compete with the best.
This season, they've erased past frustrations with the strongest campaign in club history, finally proving that their BCL Asia run was no fluke.
Key players this season
Deshawndre Washington: A do-it-all wing. Washington has delivered a triple-double and other near triple-doubles in key games and leads Shabab Al Ahli in scoring and playmaking. His poise in crunch time has been game-changing.
Qais Alshabebi: The Shabab Al Ahli lifer continues to be the bedrock of the team. A relentless presence inside, he averaged near double-doubles through the Final Phase, anchoring both ends of the floor.
Hamed Lateef: The 24-year-old combo guard is turning heads. He hit the game-winning three in Game 1 of the Finals and has shown flashes of superstardom, especially under pressure. A UAE national team gem in the making.
Jamelle Hagins: Arriving midseason, Hagins has solidified the paint, posting a monster double-double in the Finals. His chemistry with Washington and Alshabebi adds a new dimension to the team.