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After winning their first qualifier for the semi-finals of the WASL West Asia region tournament, coach Jad el-Hajj’s men will travel to al-Wahda in Syria on Thursday, March 14, aiming for victory at Al Faihaa Stadium (Damascus), one of the largest stadiums in the Arab region, with a capacity of up to 15,000 spectators.
FIBA WASL
The FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) is an international basketball league organized by FIBA Asia, comprising clubs from West Asia and the Gulf regions, as well as representatives from South Asia and Kazakhstan. The league was announced in 2022 and began with the inaugural season from December to June 2023.
The league is made up of 18 teams, divided into two sub-zones. The champions and runners-up of each season qualify for the Basketball Champions League Asia.
Lebanese Teams Involved
The Lebanese teams taking part are Riyadi Beirut, the reigning Lebanese champions, and Sagesse, who have replaced league runners-up Dynamo Beirut, who withdrew from all tournaments this season.
After winning the West Asian regional title last season, coach Ahmad Farran stated in several interviews that the team is focused and determined to win the league this season.
On the other hand, Sagesse are enjoying their first international experience in a long time, and will be looking to bring trophies back into the club coffers after years of administrative turbulence.
Lebanese Semi-Final
It’s worth noting that, should La Sagesse win their match against Syrian club Al Wahda, it would be another derby in the semi-finals of the tournament for the West Asian region. It would be match of great importance for both teams whose fervent supporters are always eager for victory.
The Lebanese duo can still hope to qualify for the final stages, provided that the loser of their semi-final series wins the match for third place, since three West Asian clubs qualify for the final stages.
