FIBA WASL helping spur Sina Vahedi's growth

TEHRAN (Iran) - Sina Vahedi isn't bothered whatsoever by being one of the younger players in a competition as elite as the ongoing FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL).

The 22-year-old believes that age hardly matters anymore, basing his take from the talents he has been seeing competing in other high-level basketball leagues across the globe.

"In this modern world, age is just a number," said the Shahrdari Gorgan floor general. "If you pay careful attention to the performances of young players in the Euroleague or in the NBA, you will see that even young players try their best and do their best performance in games."

Vahedi himself has been proving as much in FIBA WASL, playing a major role behind the defending three-time Iran champions' perfect 3-0 run thus far in the West Asia League sub-zone.

He had 23 points in their opening week win over newcomers Sagesse on the road, and would then average 13.5 points in their next two victories against Al-Ittihad Ahli and Al Naft.

For him, all the credit goes to Head Coach Mostafa Hashemi and the rest of his brothers-in-arms as to why he has been a picture of solidness for Gorgan, a team motivated to strike gold this time after falling just short of accomplishing as much in the inaugural competitions.

"Let me thank the support of my coaches and teammates. I'm sure we're gonna have tough games for Gorgan ... I hope we continue this way and this rhythm to the championship."

But there's really no denying that Vahedi is doing his part as well to perform at a level he's set, and that's thanks, too, to FIBA WASL for helping spur his growth as a player.

He's never settling, though. The heady 1.85 M (6'1") guard is very much locked in on his goal to become better not just for his ball club, but for the Iranian national team as well.

"I'm sure we're gonna have tough games for Gorgan and also for the national team," the one-time FIBA Basketball World Cup campaigner said. "I hope that through practice, I can continue to improve my performance to help my teammates -- with the club and with the national team."

FIBA