- 02
- July
- 2025
To say it was close would be an understatement. To say it was intense would be an understatement. In a nail-biting match, Sagesse clinched its ticket to the final after a Hitchcockian thriller.
They did it. Linos Gavriel’s men withstood everything: pressure, heatwaves, comebacks and a tenacious Beirut Club until the very last second. The final score was 78-77 for Sagesse, who won the decisive Game 5 and took the series 3-2. A one-point difference, just like in Game 4... except this time, luck was on their side. A resounding revenge for the Greens.
A Hitchcockian Scenario
It would have been impossible to write a better script. A frenzied crowd, an electric atmosphere, and two teams neck-and-neck for forty minutes. The suspense lasted until the last possession: Beirut, trailing by a hair, tried everything, but the last shot only grazed the rim. Hitchcock would have loved it.
This game was tense, tense as a violin string. After the controversial ending to Game 4, won in Ghazir by Beirut on a last-second three-pointer and a foul called in the confusion, this fifth game felt like a settling of scores. It lived up to all its promises.
Heroes in the Green Camp
Omar Jamaleddine put on a show: 31 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and a will to win that galvanized his entire team. He was clutch, dominant, almost possessed. Alongside him, Sekou Doumbouya (13 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) was invaluable, as were Gerard Hadidian (11 points, 9 rebounds), Marc Khoueiry (10 points, 4 assists) and the very active Moody, who racked up 5 steals. A solid team performance.
Beirut Fought Tooth and Nail
The Beirut Club, coached by Jad al-Hajj, did not disappoint. Sergio al-Darwich (24 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists), Ali Haidar (16 points, 11 rebounds), Joe Young (14 points), Thomas Wimbush, Richard Solomon and Ali Mezher (7 points, 10 assists) gave their all. But 18 turnovers and a low three-point percentage (7/25) weighed heavily on the outcome.
A Series of Rare Intensity
This semifinal was a showcase of Lebanese basketball at its best. Beirut struck first, Sagesse responded with two wins, then Beirut snatched Game 4 in a controversial finish. Everything was decided on Tuesday night in the furnace of the Chiyah Arena, in front of 1,200 excited spectators. And it was Sagesse who had the last word.
Make Way for the Classico!
The Greens will now face Riyadi in the Lebanese championship final. It's a dream matchup, a classic among classics: the Yellows against the Greens, the country’s two most successful clubs facing off for the ultimate trophy. This will be the second consecutive final between these two giants. Last year, Riyadi won 4-1. This time, Sagesse wants to believe in its lucky star.
Schedule for the First Games of the Final:
Friday, July 4: Riyadi – Sagesse (Saeb Salam Hall – 9:45 PM)
Sunday, July 6: Sagesse – Riyadi (Antoine Choueiri Stadium – 9:45 PM)
Monday, July 7: Riyadi – Sagesse (Saeb Salam Hall – 9:45 PM)
Wednesday, July 9: Sagesse – Riyadi (Antoine Choueiri Stadium – 9:45 PM)
Can Sagesse Pull Off a Feat?
Riyadi, the clear winner over Homenetmen (3-0), is waiting for its longtime rival with confidence. Can Sagesse pull off the feat? In any case, after this memorable Game 5, anything is possible. Because in a Hitchcock-style thriller, everything can change with one last possession.
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