ZOUK MIKAEL (Lebanon) - Two games into Sagesse SC's campaign in the FIBA WASL Final 8 2026 and there's one thing that fans and observers alike have become so certain of: Youssef Khayat is a bona fide star.
After coming through in the clutch versus Shahrdari Gorgan, the young winger showed that he could also set the tone by steering the Green Castle to a strong start en route to beating Al Ula to reach the Semi-Finals.
'Yoyo' fired 17 points in the opening period alone, outscoring their counterparts by his lonesome as his early eruption propelled the home team to a 24-16 lead toward the eventual 95-89 victory to stay perfect.
He went on to finish with 28 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field for easily his best performance in this pan-regional competition to date, and also collected 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal - all without a turnover.
"I just take what the game gives me," he said when asked about his stupendous start after the match at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex. "I don't try to do too much, or do too little. I play the game the right way."
"And most importantly, I try to do what the coaches tell me to do. That's the main point this season: us following what the coaches say and not doing what we have in mind. We have to keep improving and keep believing."
That kind of commitment he has is one of the many things that Sagesse head coach Joe Ghattas appreciates from the 23-year-old, lauding as well the kind of growth his prized ward has been showing especially this season.
From leading the club to the Lebanese Basketball Championship Finals, and now to another Semi-Final stint in the Final 8, the former player-turned-mentor couldn't be any happier to be coaching a player of that caliber.
"Lucky to have a player in a team like Youssef," he said. "Youssef is a very dedicated player. The guy works like crazy during the unseen hours. I'm very happy and lucky at the same time to have a player like him."
"We really trust him. And I believe he is the future of the club," added the 44-year-old bench strategist, who was once a player of the ball club also known as 'Hekmeh' before fully transitioning into coaching.
After 2 games, Khayat is now averaging 23.5 points on an efficient 58.1-percent clip from the floor, along with 7.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists on 26.5 efficiency - he has yet to commit a single TO in this tournament.
It should no longer be a surprise that he's been upping the ante in the Final 8, having proven himself capable not just during the WASL-West Asia League earlier in the season but with the Lebanon men's team as well.
Imma do the impossible for Hekmeh to become champions.
Back in Window 4 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, Khayat submitted one of his best showings in the global stage when he fired 21 points to banner their 93-74 rout of Korea at home.
Definitely, he's carried that over to Sagesse in the ongoing club tilt. But as happy as his coaches and teammates are, the former NCAA D1 talent refuses to settle and would rather stay as locked in as he could be.
Because all these commendable performances, for him, won't mean anything if they won't be able to win the ultimate prize, for it is part of his grander goal of winning as many titles as he can with the team.
"My goal is for us to be champions, to win all the championships we're in," he said. "Imma do the impossible for Hekmeh to become champions. We gotta keep trusting in the system, and trusting in the coaching staff."
"And, trusting what the coaching staff tells us," he added. "But, yeah, it's only the beginning."
Sagesse will now wait for the winner between Group A teams Kuwait Club and Indian Railways for their opponent in the knockout crossover Semi-Finals, which is scheduled to be played on Saturday, October 3.
FIBA