Second season of FIBA WASL tips off with history being made

BEIRUT (Lebanon) - After an exciting debut season, the FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) - Gulf tipped off the follow-up second season in history-making fashion, much to the joy of the spectating fans.

The opening game was a marquee matchup between two storied teams: Kuwait Club and Muharraq.

Kuwait Club are the defending champions of WASL-Gulf and WASL Final 8 Finalists. They headed into this season with an undefeated record in WASL-Gulf play.

Muharraq are the newcomers to WASL-Gulf, but they have had experience playing in the international setting. They were among the teams at the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2019, making it to the semi-finals in a memorable run.

In a spirited encounter, Kuwait Club emerged victorious to keep their WASL-Gulf perfect record intact, 108-92, to welcome Muharraq. Kuwait Club star Hamad Hasan erupted for 28 points (most by a non-foreign player in WASL-Gulf history) and made eight three-point shots (most in WASL-Gulf history).

Meanwhile, Muharraq's Tyler Wilkerson nearly broke the single-game scoring record with 34 points, though it would be the most in a WASL Gulf debut.

This is only the beginning of an entertaining opening week in WASL. Gulf League action continues on November 14, with Al Ahli taking on Al Rayyan in Jeddah. From there, WASL-West Asia tips off on November 15 with a highlighted clash between Shahrdary Gorgan and C.S. Sagesse in Ghazir. The week wraps up with Al-Ittihad Ahli hosting Al Naft in Aleppo on 16 November.

The opening game of this second season proves to be a good sign for what is to come in the upcoming months in both WASL-Gulf and WASL-West Asia as the 16 championship-level teams battle for their place in WASL Final 8 with the ultimate goal of advancing to the FIBA Asia Champions Cup and the FIBA Intercontinental Cup.

This season will progress in the Group Stage with all teams in the same group playing against each other in a home-and-away format. At the end of the Group Stage, the first-place teams in each group will advance directly to the semi-finals. The second- and third-place teams will crossover to play in the Qualification to Semi-Finals match-ups.

The top three teams in WASL - Gulf League along with the top three games in WASL - West Asia will qualify for the WASL - Final 8.

FIBA