FIBA WASL Season 2: Who among the West Asia teams are coming back?

BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Al Riyadi will be gunning for a repeat as they are set to return for Season 2 of the FIBA West Asia Super League (FIBA WASL).

The reigning FIBA WASL West Asia champions are among the ball clubs confirmed to be coming back for the new season beginning in October, punching their ticket after reigning supreme in the 2022-23 Lebanese Basketball Championship.

Wael Arakji and Co. are spearheading the West Asia League returnees, which also features Shahrdari Gorgan, Al Naft and Al-Ittihad Ahli of Aleppo.

Gorgan secured their place in Season 2 after conquering the 2022-23 Iranian Basketball Super League to clinch a 'three-peat,' giving themselves another chance at the Sub-Zone League championship after settling for a runner-up finish in the inaugural season.

Hungry will be the crew led by Mohammad Jamshidi and Behnam Yakhchali as they got swept by the Lebanese powerhouse in the best-of-3 Final.

Both Al Riyadi and Gorgan are coming into the new season not just looking to add the FIBA WASL West Asia crown to their collections but to make it back to the FIBA WASL Final 8 as well after finishing just fourth and fifth, respectively, in the maiden edition.

Also coming into Season 2 as domestic champions are Al Naft, who ruled the 2022-23 Iraqi Basketball League to annex their sixth consecutive championship.

Al Naft are keen on bettering their finish from last season. Behind Edgar Sosa and Antwaine Wiggins, they made it to the Qualification to Semi-Finals but lost to ZobAhan.

Lastly, Al-Ittihad Ahli sealed their slot following a runner-up finish in the Syrian Basketball League, now hoping to stay and compete much longer in the pan-regional competition.

A total of 8 teams are set to compete in the FIBA WASL-West Asia League, with the rest of the field set to be confirmed and announced soon.

Tipping off on 16 October, Season 2 will see a total of 18 teams, made up of 13 champions and 5 runners-up from domestic leagues from the Gulf, West, South, and Central Asia Sub-Zones.

Each Sub-Zone League will feature 2 groups of 4 teams, with the top seed by the end of the round-robin Group Phase directly qualifying to the best-of-3 Semi-Finals.

The second and third-ranked teams will play in the Qualification to Semi-Finals - also a best-of-3.

The top 3 teams from both the West Asia and Gulf leagues will be joined by the champion teams from the South and Central Asia Sub-Zones in the FIBA WASL Final 8.

The Sub-Zone Leagues Draw will take place on Tuesday, 8 August 2023 at 18:00 (GMT+3) at the Le Royal Hotel Beirut in Dbayeh, Lebanon.

FIBA