BEIRUT (Lebanon) - One looks to extend their winning streak, while the other is keen to build their own as Muharraq and Sharjah SC lead the fray in this week's 2025-26 FIBA WASL-Gulf League action.
The Red Wolves have their sights set on winning a third straight outing, while the UAE side hopes to register back-to-back victories for the first time this season when they take on their respective assignments.
The defending Zain Premier League champions will open the week with a rematch against no less than the reigning Sub-Zone League champions Shabab Al Ahli on Monday night at the BBA Arena in Manama, Bahrain.
Coach Peter Schomers' charges are of course hungry for payback after losing in their first match narrowly, an 89-87 decision in which the do-it-all Deshawndre Washington starred with a triple-double performance.
It was the second of two losses to start the season but Muharraq have woken up since, posting victories against Ittihad Club and most recently versus Kazma to go .500 in the Group A standings with a 2-2 record.
That 92-64 win against the Kuwaiti side at home last December 16 at home was their most convincing by far, with Nick West leading the way with a monster double-double of 30 points and 16 rebounds.
Needless to say, they want to stretch that to three, looking to compound on the woes of a Shabab Al Ahli side that's also currently at 2-2 and is coming off an 85-82 defeat to Ittihad last December 8 in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Sharjah will try to make things more interesting in Group B should they take care of business against Al Arabi SC on Tuesday in the latter's own floor at the Al-Gharafa Sports Club Multi-Purpose Hall in Doha.
As it stands, DeMarco Dickerson & Co. are sitting at third with a 2-2 record, and a win would create a three-way tie with Kuwait Club and Al Ula Club as both squads are sharing 3-2 cards after their clash last week.
In case you missed it, Sharjah beat Al Ula in their last outing, a pulsating 101-100 come-from-behind victory that witnessed Dickerson complete a rare four-point play against Wael Arakji in the dying seconds.
And soon, they're motivated to make it two in a row when they lock horns again with the same team they beat by way of a narrow 91-89 result last November 4 in Dubai to notch their breakthrough win in WASL.
But of course, they're under no illusion of it being easy, as they will be taking on a desperate foe as the Red Devils haven't won since winning their season opener versus Kuwait Club. They're last in Group B at 1-3.
FIBA