BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Shabab Al Ahli and Kuwait Club will go for broke in an attempt to close out their respective opponents this week - and to complete the 2025-26 FIBA WASL-Gulf League Semi-Finals picture.
Action begins Monday with the two-time Sub-Zone League winners looking to give Muharraq the boot in Bahrain, with the reigning titlists aiming to do the same against Al Arabi SC the following night in Qatar.
Both the league pioneers put themselves in a position to sweep after taking 1-0 leads in their own Qualification to Semi-Finals series, and they're surely keen on getting the job done for some additional respite as well.
Kuwait Club were the first to put one foot into the Semi-Finals following a character-testing 107-101 win over Muharraq, with Turki Alshemmari emerging as the unlikely hero with his big hits in the clutch.
Alshemmari finished with 8 points, none bigger than the 5 he made in successive fashion - and in a short span - which enabled Kuwait Club to avert disaster after squandering a 95-78 lead early in the fourth quarter.
As elite as their poise was, that comeback by the Red Wolves, in which they unloaded a 17-0 blast to tie the game at 95-all before taking a 99-96 lead, should be enough warning that Game 2 wouldn't be easy.
Add to that the fact that their series shifts to the BBA Arena in Manama, where an electric Bahraini crowd is expected to show up - looking, of course, to provide an added spark for a team hoping to force a Game 3.
The winner between Kuwait Club and Muharraq will forge a Semi-Finals showdown with Ittihad Club.
Shabab Al Ahli, on the other hand, took a major step in their WASL-Gulf League title defense following a 107-88 rout of the Red Devils as they made it rain from the outside by hitting 17 three-pointers in total.
Omer Alameri proved to be their top marksman as the seasoned big man finished with 21 points, all of which he earned from deep as he shot an excellent 7-for-9 from beyond the arc in the 26 minutes he saw action.
Weaponizing the three-ball was actually a strategy of Coach Miodrag Perisic as they lacked the needed presence to compete inside with star bruiser Qais Alshabebi out, thus their relief that they all clicked from deep.
A total five players finished in twin digits in the big win but Alameri himself was quick to warn that trying to finish off the opposition at the Al-Gharafa Sports Club Multi-Purpose Hall won't be a walk in the park.
Aside from the fact that they'd be in enemy territory, it would be difficult to replicate such a solid shooting night, plus the hunger Al Arabi will have especially from guard Mosti Rashed after being held to 11 in Game 1.
The victor in this series will arrange a Semi-Finals battle with Al Ula Club, who recently won the 2025-26 Saudi Basketball League championship which also assures them of a spot in the fifth season of WASL.
For a better look at the 2025-26 WASL-Gulf League Final Phase picture, click here.
FIBA