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3. Basketball – Abu Dhabi: Lebanon Kicks Off Its Campaign with a Double Blowout

Opening day was all one-way for Lebanese basketball representatives at the Abu Dhabi International: Champville crushed hosts Al Wahda (105-61), and Riyadi rolled past Al Dhafra (114-81). Two big wins, high tempo, and early chemistry already on display.

The Maristes Put on a Show
For their first outing with a heavily revamped roster, Champville (the Maristes) set the tone right away: 32-14 in the first quarter, 52-30 at halftime, 77-49 after 30 minutes, and 105-61 at the buzzer. Coach Alen Abaz opened up the bench, mixed combinations, and gave everyone minutes, using the early cushion to work on connections.
New American guard Stedmon Lemon delivered a leader’s performance (29 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists), well backed by Javion Blake, who came close to a triple-double (19 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists). In the paint, Henry Sims imposed his size (16 points, 10 rebounds). Bassel Harfouch (11 points, 6 rebounds) and Mark Abi Kheirs (7 points, 4 rebounds) added to the tally, while Mostafa Assaf filled the hustle column (5 points, 10 rebounds). Notably, Hadi El Khatib, son of Lebanese legend Fadi El Khatib, made his official debut, recording 5 points and 5 rebounds in a composed first appearance.
Next up is Al Qurain (Kuwait) on Wednesday at 5:45 PM (Beirut time), with the aim of keeping momentum and fine-tuning before knockout games.

Riyadi in Full Control
Reigning Lebanese champions Riyadi also cruised past Al Dhafra: 35-21 after ten minutes, 61-42 at halftime, 93-65 after 30 minutes, and 114-81 at the end. With three new foreign players on court, the team still looked like a long-time unit: Farran’s system ran smoothly, anchored by a stable Lebanese core.
The numbers show collective dominance: 50% from three, 67% from two, and 37 assists. Ivan Buva led the inside battle (22 points, 9 rebounds), while Perrin Buford combined efficiency and volume (21 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds). Hayk Gyokchyan (14 points, 4 rebounds) shot cleanly, Maurice Kemp added 13 points, Amir Saoud filled the stat sheet (12 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists), and Ismail Ahmad once again set the tone (11 points). At the point, Ali Mansour dazzled (12 assists, 4 rebounds), while Karim Zeinoun contributed solidly (9 points).
Their next test comes Wednesday at 8:30 PM against TNT (Philippines), a team known for its pace and outside shooting.

The Message Sent
Beyond the margins, it’s the manner that matters: relentless intensity, ball sharing, and deep rotations. Champville showed controlled aggression and effective rebounding defense; Riyadi imposed a champion’s rhythm, mixing penetration with outside shooting. If these standards hold through the week, the two Lebanese clubs will head deeper into the tournament with fuel and confidence.