FIBA WASL Season 2 Final Phase picture to be completed as group play concludes

BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Kuwait Club have the inside track of securing the remaining Gulf League Semi-Finals ticket as the FIBA WASL Season 2 Group Phase comes to a close.

Though in the midst of a two-game losing skid, the reigning sub-zone league champions are still leading Group A, and would only need to win their remaining assignment as they host Al-Ahli Jeddah on Monday night at the Shaikh Saad Alabdullah Sport Hall Complex.

Game time is at 19:00 local time, and the charges of Coach Peter Schomers would definitely want to sweep their season series against the team from Saudi Arabia to accomplish their goal of booking a direct flight to the Semis for the second season in a row.

But it won't be that easy, for they will try to do so against a team that's riding a two-game winning streak - that, after starting out with three straight losses.

Al-Ahli Jeddah first took down Al Rayyan following a comeback from 19 down, and then ended the three-game winning streak of Muharraq via 30-point rout. That dominant victory shook things up in the group as it made the race to the top seed an open race.

Furthermore, that conquest of the Bahraini side has made DeAndre Liggins and Co. confident of their chances against a team that was once unbeaten through 13 games.

A win would definitely improve their chances of making it to the Qualification to Semi-Finals, which, if they do, would mark one great turnaround for the once-winless crew.

The much-awaited match-up will be the opening salvo of what would be a busy week ahead, wherein the first three of four gamedays will serve double-header affairs.

Muharraq and Al Rayyan will also be seeing action on Monday, with the former looking to bounce back and fan their Semis hopes as they host the latter at the BBA Arena in Manama.

Group A (FIBA WASL-GULF)

10/12 games played

		GAMES				STREAK	GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	Last 5	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Kuwait Club	5	3	2	60.0		489	441	48	97.8	88.2	8
2	Muharraq Club	5	3	2	60.0		431	444	-13	86.2	88.8	8
3	Al Rayyan	5	2	3	40.0		403	431	-28	80.6	86.2	7
4	Al Ahli	5	2	3	40.0		444	451	-7	88.8	90.2	7

Bannering Tuesday's offering, meanwhile, are reigning FIBA WASL champions Manama as they face Shabab Al Ahli-Dubai at home at the BBA Arena as well at 19:00 local time.

Though assured of a trip to the Gulf League Semis, the unbeaten unit of Coach Linos Gavriel (5-0) are still looking to end the preliminaries strongly against the visiting side from UAE, which are looking to score an upset as they have lost twice in their last three games.

Serving as another motivation for Shabab Al Ahli-Dubai, a team toting a 3-2 record, is that a victory would improve their chances of finishing second in the group.

But it's not just them that's trying to end up at the no. 2 spot. There's also Kazma, which they lost to via 91-83 decision last week that dashed their Semi-Finals hopes - and enabled Manama to clinch the top seed in the group to secure the direct trip to the Semis.

The Kuwaiti team will be playing on Tuesday night as well. They host the 0-5 Al Shamal at the Shaikh Saad Alabdullah Sport Hall Complex at 21:00 local time, hoping to end the Group Phase with back-to-back wins for possibly a better positioning in the Qualification to Semis.

Group B (FIBA WASL-GULF)

10/12 games played

		GAMES				STREAK	GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	Last 5	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Manama	5	5	0	100		497	379	118	99.4	75.8	10
2	Shabab Al Ahli - Dubai	5	3	2	60.0		441	388	53	88.2	77.6	8
3	Kazma	5	2	3	40.0		430	429	1	86	85.8	7
4	Al Shamal	5	0	5	0		373	545	-172	74.6	109	5

Over at the FIBA WASL-West Asia League, the 2 and 3 seeds in Group A will be determined as Sagesse and Al-Ittihad Ahli duke it out on Wednesday night at the Ghazir Club Stadium.

Presently, the Lebanese side are at second with a 3-2 win-loss record, with their Syrian counterparts sitting behind them carrying a 2-3 card. But that may change depending on the result of their Valentine's Day encounter in the former's home court.

It's the only thing left to be known in the pool as Shahrdary Gorgan have already booked a spot in the sub-zone Semis following an 80-65 home win over Al-Ittihad last February 1.

Still, the 5-0 team doesn't want to relax whatsoever, looking to sweep the group as they go up against Al Naft at the Al Shaeb Hall in Baghdad in Wednesday's double-header opener.

Group A (FIBA WASL-WEST ASIA)

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

Capping off the Season 2 Group Phase play, lastly, will be a match pitting Al Riyadi and Al Shorta on Thursday night at the Stade Nouhad Nawfal in Zouk Mikael.

FIBA