JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) - Ittihad Club are headed for a second straight FIBA WASL-Gulf League Semi-Finals appearance but their run this time around feels more special for head coach Slobodan Subotic.
The Greek mentor sees their trip to the Sub-Zone League's final four of the 2025-26 competitions as an improvement from last season, given that they did so by clinching the top spot in Group A.
"This is a big improvement, and a big thing for the club," he offered shortly after their 91-87 come-from-behind victory over Muharraq in the Group Phase's penultimate gameday last January 19 at the Green Basketball Court.
Securing the no. 1 position in a WASL Sub-Zone League Group Phase merits a direct trip to the Semi-Finals, something that the Tigers weren't able to do in their maiden campaign last season due to a shaky start.
Yes,. we are in the Semi-Finals and this is a great result ... but we don't want to stop here.
The Saudi Basketball League outfit won just twice in the Group Phase and ended up third in Group B with a 2-4 record. But a Cinderella story would unfold, as they flipped the switch come the Final Phase.
The Tigers ousted the then-reigning WASL-Gulf League titlists Kuwait Club via sweep in the Qualification to Semi-Finals, and then outlasted Al Qadsia SC - the no. 1 seed in Group A - in the Semi-Finals.
Ittihad would eventually settle for a runner-up finish behind league pioneers Shabab Al Ahli after getting swept in the best-of-3 series, but that remained a feat per se given where they were early in the tilt.
Plus, they booked themselves a ticket to the WASL Final 8 2025 in Zouk Mikael in Lebanon, making them the first-ever ball club from Saudi Arabia to qualify for the pan-regional competition's culminating event.
Fast forward to now and they actually are in a better situation than the defending Gulf champs. Subotic and his charges practically denied their budding rivals from finishing atop their group by beating them twice.
The Tigers would go on to take pole position still with a game left in their calendar, but refused to slack off whatsoever as they made sure to conclude the Group Phase on a high by beating the Red Wolves.
"I'm happy, and all the congratulations to my players that we finished first in this group. Because last year, we finished third," said the champion bench tactician. who steered his men to a 5-1 record.
Ittihad are now in the midst of a break before the Semi-Finals, but it won't be all about waiting and seeing for them as their focus is set on continuing to put in the work, to stay ready whoever they're facing next.
The crew will take on the winner between Kuwait Club and Muharraq in the penultimate phase.
"Yes, we are in the Semi-Finals and this is a great result," said the 69-year-old Subotic. "But, we don't want to stop here. We know that we're now in the knockout games, so we need to be ready for the next games."
FIBA