- 10:00
In Ghazir, Riyadi once again imposed its dominance (105-97) over an outmatched Sagesse, despite a full arena and an electrifying Sekou Doumbouya. It’s the fourth loss of the season against the Yellows, and a dangerous crisis atmosphere is settling in among the Greens as the Final Four approaches.
They had the arena, the crowd, and a thirst for revenge—but the Greens cracked once again.
On Wednesday night, in a blazing atmosphere at Antoine Choueiri Hall in Ghazir, Sagesse suffered its fifth league loss of the season—and notably, its fourth against Riyadi across all competitions. Final score: 105–97 in favor of the Yellows.
A One-Sided Derby?
Though the final minutes were tight, the overall story left little room for doubt. Riyadi, despite missing its usual sharpshooters Wael Arakji and Amir Saoud (both injured), controlled the game, setting the pace and showing its mastery. Coach Linos Gavriel’s men exposed the limits of a squad still finding its rhythm, despite a fiery individual effort by Sekou Doumbouya (39 points, 6 rebounds).
The Numbers Game
Riyadi dominated the boards (39 rebounds to 23) and leaned on a well-oiled team effort despite the absences: Marcus Georges-Hunt scored 32 points, strongly supported by Ali Mansour (14 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists), veteran Ismail Ahmad (9 points, 6 rebounds), and a productive bench (Ghantous, Zeinoun…).
For Sagesse, Jad Khalil (13 points), Omar Jamaleddine (12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals), and Gerard Hadidian (12 points) tried to keep pace—but couldn’t turn things around. The quarter scores hinted at a possible comeback (22–27, 23–15, 29–21, 31–34), but too many missed shots (11 of 37 from three-point range) and glaring defensive flaws accelerated the collapse.
A Taste of Crisis
After the game, social media blew up. Green supporters didn’t hold back, harshly criticizing players and management alike. With 16 losses across all competitions, Sagesse has hit a troubling total—unprecedented even in the club’s darkest years. This raises serious questions about the team’s true ambitions on the eve of the playoffs.
And Now?
Both teams have qualified for the Final Four. Sagesse will face Beirut Club in the semifinals—a high-stakes series against a solid and consistent opponent. Riyadi, meanwhile, will take on Homenetmen in another Lebanese basketball classic. But one thing is clear: if the Greens still want to dream of a title, they’ll need to shift gears—and fast.
Comments