The Final 8 of the West Asia Super League (WASL) basketball tournament got underway on Friday June 9. This competition, organized and supervised by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) in Dubai, brings together the top 3 teams from the West Asian WASL league and the top 3 from the Gulf WASL league, in addition to the top 2 teams from South Asia and Central Asia. Eight teams in all.
Of the eight teams qualified for the Final 8 2023, two were Lebanese: al-Riyadi and Beirut Club – the latter was eliminated in the 1st round -, both teams from the Lebanese capital and drawn in the same Group A in the group phase. The others are: Shabab al-Ahli (Dubai), al-Manama (Bahrain), BC Astana (Kazakhstan), Chennai Heats (India), Kuwait Club (Kuwait), Shahrdary Gorgan (Iran). The 8 clubs are divided into 2 groups of 4 teams each. However, in a major incongruity this year, the 8-team final round is being played… with 7 teams! The Chennai Heats are missing for undetermined reasons.
On Wednesday June 14, for the 1st round (group phase), in Group A – truncated by one team – Beirut lost to al-Manama (75-86) after having already been beaten on Monday June 12 by al-Riyadi (91-106), the latter having also defeated al-Manama (112-84) on Saturday June 10. With the group phase now complete, the semi-finals will be played on Friday June 16 – with Group A’s 1st (al-Riyadi) playing Group B’s 2nd (Kuwait Club) and Group B’s 1st (BC Astana) playing Group A’s 2nd (al-Manama). The final and the match for 3rd place will take place on Saturday June 17.
