ZOUK MIKAEL (Lebanon) - Strengthening their grip on the top spot will be the target for Al Riyadi when they host the visiting Shahrdari Gorgan as the 2025-26 FIBA WASL-West Asia League resumes this Wednesday.
Game time is set at 20:45 local time at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex, with the defending champions looking to conquer their Iranian rivals once more to bolster their bid of finishing the Group Phase at no. 1.
As it stands, Coach Ahmad Farran & Co. are leading the standings with a 5-2 record, followed by BC Astana (5-2), another Lebanese side in Sagesse SC (3-4), and then Gorgan, who are actually below .500 with a 3-4 card.
But these four are already bound for the Semi-Finals following Al Wahda SC's elimination last week after bowing to the Green Castle in Ghazir, making the remaining games ahead crucial to determine the final seedings.
Riyadi simply need to beat Gorgan to practically seal their position although they know that it won't be easy, given that they won by the skin of their teeth in their last meeting at the Azadi Basketball Hall in Tehran.
"We beat them at the buzzer last time," recalled star forward Hayk Gyokchyan, who nailed the game-winner from close range to lead his side to the 85-83 escape. "So we need to play better, and keep this streak going."
Now, they want not only to repeat but post a much more convincing win this time just like what they did against the Kazakhstan representatives, whom they dealt a massive 106-57 beatdown to last Wednesday.
But of course, Gorgan wouldn't want any of that to happen, given also the fact that they're in the midst of a three-game skid, with their most recent defeat a 101-92 decision at the hands of the erstwhile winless Al Wahda.
The Syrian ball club, already out of contention as mentioned, will try to conclude their season on a winning note when they take on a hungry Astana on Thursday night also at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex
Like Wednesday's game, tip-off is set at 20:45 local time, with Astana looking to pull off an encore - or better - of their 88-64 win in their previous meeting to fan their hopes of challenging Riyadi at the no. 1 spot.
FIBA