BEIRUT (Lebanon) - All roads lead to the Stade Nouhad Naufal in Zouk Mikael this weekend as the highly anticipated FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) Final 8 2025 finally raises its curtains.
The May 10-18 showpiece will mark the third edition of the pan-regional competition's culminating event, and another wild ride ahead is expected given that so much is at stake for the eight protagonists.
Both the groupings and dates of fixtures have been cast in stone but before all that, it sure is high time to take a look at some of the intriguing questions which fans and pundits alike wonder entering the tilt.
Back-to-back for Riyadi?
Of course, much of the attention will be on Al Riyadi if they would be able to defend their throne as FIBA WASL kings, with some of their faithful actually looking at how they'd accomplish as much.
That's because they've set a bar so high, especially after writing history last April when they became the very first to achieve a league 'three-peat' by conquering the 2025 WASL-West Asia League via eight-game sweep.
Much has been said about that feat and the wards of Coach Ahmad Farran only want one thing now, and that is to win the ultimate prize for the second time in a row - another first if ever they accomplish as much.
That, however, could be easier said than done. Remember, it wasn't all smooth-sailing for Riyadi last year, having to come back from a big deficit to beat Sagesse SC in overtime in a championship bout for the ages.
Well, the Green Castle are once again in the Final 8, and their long-time domestic rivals, needless to say, are coming in with the extreme eagerness to finish the story - with them hoping to be the victors this time.
Not to be slighted are the new WASL-Gulf champions in Shabab Al Ahli, whom they could face potentially during the Final Phase as the Dubai-based ball club is bannering the Group B ensemble.
They, too, have a score to settle against Riyadi. They got beaten badly during the BCL Asia inaugurals' Final in their own home floor in UAE, and beating their tormentor in their stomping grounds should be sweet payback.
Will the newcomers make noise?
But it's not just those two esteemed clubs which the home bets should watch out for. This Final 8 has a total of three new competitors in the mix, namely Tabiat Basketball, Ittihad Club, and Al Qadsia SC.
Ittihad finished as runners-up in the WASL-Gulf League Final and although they got swept by Shabab Al Ahli, their run to the Big Dance alone is an achievement per se given that they only went 2-4 to start the season.
They had to go through the wringer and that included stunning Qadsia in the Semi-Finals, ousting a team that actually qualified for the said stage directly after finishing as the no. 1 seed in Group B of the pool phase.
But the Kuwaiti side refused to see the end of their maiden WASL campaign, authoring their own unique story by showing inaugural league champs and pioneers Manama the door to secure the third-place finish.
That win also ensured that Kuwait continues their streak of sorts of having a representative in the Final 8 after erstwhile two-time Gulf League titlists Kuwait Club got ousted by Ittihad in the Qualification to Semi-Finals.
Tabiat, on the other hand, sealed their ticket to Lebanon by finishing second in the WASL-West Asia, which kept Iran as a solid contender for the crown after Shahrdary Gorgan's solid runs in the last two seasons.
Is this the time for CABA and SABA?
Lest we forget, though, are the other returning teams in the Final 8 - CABA representatives BC Astana of Kazakhstan and Indian ball club Tamil Nadu, who will be carrying the fight for SABA.
And both teams are coming in motivated by redemption. Astana, for one, failed to get past the Group Phase last year, a downer knowing that they reached the Semi-Finals in 2023 and finished third by beating Riyadi.
Tamil Nadu, on the other hand, are looking to build off their 2024 campaign. Although they ultimately bowed in all of their three assignment, there was no denying the progress they made in each outing.
Are we bound for another thrilling finale?
The last two Final 8 title bouts went down the wire. The fight for the crown in 2023 in Dubai witnessed Manama come away with the 67-59 win, but not before warding off Kuwait Club's comeback from 19 down.
Who can forget the 2024 edition? In easily one of the best WASL games ever, Al Riyadi left with the 100-90 win, where Wael Arakji nailed three straight triples to force OT before Thon Maker closed it out.
Will this year's Final be as exciting as their predecessors? That, we have to find out.
Who gets the BCL Asia tickets?
What's certain, though, is that two tickets to the BCL Asia are up for grabs in the Final 8.
Aside from Riyadi, WASL was represented by third-placers Gorgan last year in the event formerly known as the FIBA Asia Champions Cup. Both of them reached the Semi-Finals, with the Yellow Castle winning it all.
Will we see familiar faces to the BCL Asia? Or, will there be new teams to carry the fight for the region?
The answers will unfurl very soon but for now, all we can do is wait for tip-off on Saturday.
To check the complete schedule and the competition system, click here.
FIBA