Job isn't finished yet for Al Riyadi even after securing West Asia Semis trip

ZOUK MIKAEL (Lebanon) - Al Riyadi accomplished one of the goals they set heading into Season 2 of the FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) on Wednesday night.

The defending West Asia League champions handed Al Wahda a 79-53 beatdown to become the first team to book a direct flight bound for the sub-zone's Semi-Finals.

"We did our job. This is what we wanted from this game," head coach Ahmad Farran offered during the postgame press conference at the Stade Nouhad Nawfal.

The decorated bench tactician had previously said that the Lebanese powerhouse would want to take a quicker route en route to the West Asia Semis, for they no longer intend to play more games like what happened during the inaugural FIBA WASL season.

For starters, Al Riyadi had to go through a longer road before basking in glory. After finishing second in Group B , Farran and Co. had to play in the Qualification to Semi-Finals, where they took down Orthodox Amman in a best-of-3 series that went the distance.

It would be all smooth-sailing for them afterwards, first by sweeping Beirut Club in the Semis before beating Shahrdary Gorgan via sweep as well to bring home the championship.

 

"We're not wasting our energy on playing extra games," Farran was quoted as saying. "This is the target for the new season of WASL. Hopefully, we can achieve it."

Al Riyadi did check it off their list, doing so by sweeping the Syrian ball club in their season series to also clinch the no. 1 spot in Group B with a clean 3-0 record.

Farran couldn't be any happier with his team doing so, for it meant another major step towards their goal of not only defending their crown but in winning the whole thing.

"Our aim is to win it all. To win it here in our zone, and to go far in the Final 8," the 42-year-old said. "This year is very crucial for us, and it's very personal for us."

"Last year, we lost two important players while we were the favorites. Hopefully this year we stay injury-free, and we go as far as we can in this tournament," he added.

Securing an outright West Asia League Semis berth will also enable the team to give more time - for now - to their 2023-24 Snips Lebanese Basketball Championship campaign, where they are also looking to defend the throne they regained form Beirut Club last season.

"It feels great. It will give us time to relax, and think a little bit about the LBL competition now, playing without pressure and thinking about two [leagues]," he said.

Plus, it would give them more time for some rest and recovery from the FIBA WASL, a period which they also plan to maximize to get as prepared as they can be for the Semis.

"Right now we have some time to relax, to watch how things are happening in the other groups. We'll take a short break and then be ready for the Semi-Final," said Wael Arakji.

Even though they have reached their target, Farran and Co. insisted that the job isn't finished yet. Since Al Riyadi are hungry to return to the Finals, the group will now shoot to earn homecourt advantage for the Big Dance - should they make it - through the quotient.

Group A

10/12 games played

		GAMES				STREAK	GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	Last 5	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Shahrdary Gorgan	5	5	0	100		468	336	132	93.6	67.2	10
2	C.S. Sagesse	5	3	2	60.0		402	399	3	80.4	79.8	8
3	Al-Ittihad Ahli	5	2	3	40.0		360	416	-56	72	83.2	7
4	Al Naft	5	0	5	0		353	432	-79	70.6	86.4	5

Group B

5/6 games played

		GAMES				STREAK	GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	Last 5	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Al Riyadi	3	3	0	100		290	203	87	96.7	67.7	6
2	Al Wahda SC	4	1	3	25.0		246	324	-78	61.5	81	5
3	Al Shorta SC	3	1	2	33.3		232	241	-9	77.3	80.3	4
4	B4	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0	0

"We won by 26 points, now we are looking far from this stage. We are looking to secure the homecourt advantage in case we reach the Final of West Asia," Farran said.

FIBA