1. Home
2. Sports
3. Basket - WASL: At the End of the Suspense, La Sagesse and Riyadi Head for a Fiery Derby

Two hard-fought victories, intensity at its peak, and a derby in sight: La Sagesse and Al Riyadi had to dig deep into their resources to win, thus setting the stage for an electrifying showdown.

Friday night at Nouhad Nawfal Stadium offered a thrilling spectacle for basketball fans. Two games, two breathtaking scenarios, and, at the end of the suspense, two hard-fought victories by the top teams of the Cedar country, La Sagesse and Al Riyadi. First, the Greens had to battle until the last second to prevail against the Iraqis of Al-Difaa (91-88), before the Yellows used their experience to dominate Tabiat Basketball after overtime (110-100). Two character-driven wins that perfectly position the historic rivals before their explosive clash this Saturday (10:00 PM).

La Sagesse Holds Strong Against Al-Difaa (91-88)

The first Lebanese club to step onto the court, La Sagesse SC experienced all the emotions against an Al-Difaa team that never gave up. Yet, Ilias Zouros’ men had a blazing start, imposing their rhythm from the outset. Led by a sharp Shabazz Muhammad (17 points, 6 rebounds) and a maestro-like Zach Lofton (12 points, 10 assists), the Greens quickly widened the gap, dominating the first quarter and leading by as many as 14 points.
But a defensive lapse allowed Al-Difaa to come back, turning a controlled game into a real battle. Ramon Galloway, in full scorer mode (35 points), caught fire and brought his team back into the game, tormenting the Lebanese defense. The pressure was at its peak in the final moments, especially as the Iraqis closed to within one point with 23 seconds left (89-88) after an offensive foul called on Lofton.
Fortunately for La Sagesse, Gerard Hadidian kept his composure. The Lebanese big man, rock-solid under the basket (19 points, 9 rebounds), drew a crucial foul and sank two clutch free throws with 9.7 seconds on the clock. On the other end, the last possession sent chills through the Lebanese camp: Ismael had the game-tying shot at his fingertips, but his three-point attempt rattled out. An explosion of joy erupted among La Sagesse ranks, securing a first victory as precious as it was hard-fought.
"We did the job, and that’s what matters," Hadidian summed up after the game.

Al Riyadi Edges Out Tabiat in the End (110-100 OT)

If La Sagesse suffered, Al Riyadi also had to dig deep to escape the trap set by a gritty Tabiat Basketball team. In a high-intensity duel, the Yellows alternated between hot and cold, at times showcasing their collective strength but also displaying unusual shakiness that could have cost them dearly.
From the start, George King (33 points, 7 rebounds, 6/10 from three) caught fire, tormenting the opposing defense with his deadly accuracy from beyond the arc. His first half was a masterpiece: 19 points with an outrageous efficiency. Following his lead, Wael Arakji (26 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists) controlled the tempo, while Hayk Gyokchyan (14 points) and Karim Zeinoun (12 points) provided valuable contributions.
But Tabiat wasn’t there to play the supporting role. The Iranians capitalized on a late-game slump from Riyadi to claw their way back and even force overtime after a completely wild sequence. Just as King seemed to have done the hardest part by scoring his team’s last nine points in the fourth quarter, a foul on a three-point attempt by Perry Petty gifted Tabiat a killer four-point play, tying the game with 46.5 seconds left. Afterward, neither Arakji nor Stedmon Lemon managed to seal the deal before the buzzer, sending the game into overtime.
There, Ahmad Farran’s men made their experience count. In five minutes, Riyadi delivered a fatal 20-10 run, led by a clutch Arakji-Zeinoun duo. Zeinoun drilled a triple to extend the lead to seven (103-94), before Arakji delivered a spectacular and-one to put the game to bed (108-96 with 1:01 left). The rest was just game management and an eruption of joy for the Yellow Castle.
"We suffered, but these are the games that shape a team," Ahmad Farran analyzed after the game. "Now, onto the derby."

An Electric Showdown Ahead

With these mentally-driven victories, the two rivals are set for an explosive derby. This clash, a rematch of the WASL Final 8 final, promises to be a must-watch event in Lebanese basketball.
On one side, Riyadi wants to assert its dominance and prove it remains the boss. On the other, La Sagesse is determined to topple its rival and make a huge statement in the title race. One certainty remains: the atmosphere at Nouhad Nawfal Stadium will be electric.
Get ready for 40 minutes (or more?) of pure basketball.