Preview: WASL Gulf set to tip-off with back-to-back games in Riyadh

BEIRUT (Lebanon) - And here we go.

The inaugural season of WASL tips off with WASL Gulf on 19 December 2022. With this being a brand new competition, there are a lot of unknowns to be learned here in the upcoming months from the tops clubs of West Asia and Gulf.

That doesn’t mean that the fans will be heading into these games in the dark! These teams are among some of the best (and most popular) clubs in their respective countries, so fans should be more than familiar with the presence of the teams and their players.

In particular, there will be many players that the regular Asia basketball fan should recognize whether it’s Saudi Arabia’s Khalid Abdul Gabar or Mohammed Alsuwailem (both playing for Al Hilal) or Qatar’s Babacar Dieng (playing for Al Sadd).

Here’s a quick look at the historical first game-days for the teams in the upcoming days ahead.

Group A

0/12 games played

Team
Al Hilal
Shabab Al Ahli - Dubai
Al Bashaer
Kazma

Group B

0/12 games played

Team
Al Manama
Al Sadd
Kuwait Club
Al Nasr Riyadh

19 December 2022

 Al Bashaer vs  Shabab Al Ahli - Dubai - 18:00 PM GMT +4 - Bawshar, Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex
 Al Hilal vs  Kazma - 20:00 PM GMT +3 - Riyadh, Green Basketball Court

20 December 2022

 Kuwait Club vs  Al Sadd - 18:00 PM GMT +3 - Kuwait City, Shaikh Saad Alabdullah Sport Hall Complex
 Al Nasr Riyadh vs  Al Manama - 20:00 PM GMT +3 -Riyadh, Green Basketball Court

With 4 games across two days, all of the WASL Gulf teams will be in action this week and putting their team on display in front of the fans.

The fans in Saudi Arabia, in particular, will have a blast as Al Hilal plays their first home game against Kazama on 19 December followed by Al Nasr Riyadh’s first home game against Al Manama on 20 December. Both games will be played in Riyadh at the Green Basketball Court, giving the Saudi Arabia basketball fans some back-to-back action right off the bat.

The other two teams to start the season at home are Al Bashaer who host Shabab Al Ahli - Dubai in Bawshar on Monday and Kuwait Club who host Al Sadd in Kuwait on Tuesday.

Star to Watch

Mohammed Alsuwailem - Al Hilal

Center
Height: 2.08 M / 6'10"

 

This is going to be a special game back for the Saudi Arabian star center. It’s been a while since we’ve seen him in action on the court ever since he injured his knee way back earlier in the year. It unfortunately kept him out of playing in the FIBA Asia Cup 2022 and some crucial windows of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers, but it seems like he’ll be good to go for the start of WASL Gulf with Al Hilal.

The local fans of Saudi Arabia basketball have already witnessed his return and it seems like he doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of rust. In his 6 games back so far, Alsuwailem is averaging 20.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game on 71.6 percent field goal shooting.

It should be fun to see him back.

Key Prospect

Mustafa Rashed - Al Manama

Guard
Height: 1.77 M / 5'10"

If a 20-years-young prospect has already dropped 30 points on Japan and 24 points on China while playing for the senior national team, has he officially lost “prospect” status already or not?

Just asking on behalf of Mustafa Rashed, who did exactly just that in the past two windows of the Asian Qualifiers. “Mosti” will turn 21 on 4 January next year, but he should already have a firm spot as an expected key contributor with Al Manama.

FIBA