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La Sagesse heads to Manara on Friday for another top match against its eternal rival, al-Riyadi. The stakes are clear: the first place in the championship.
After the marathon match between al- Riyadi and La Sagesse on Wednesday in WASL tournament, the duel between the two Lebanese basketball giants moves to the lebanese championship in the final game of the league’s regular phase with a single objective: first place.
Historical Overview
This derby marks the 136th meeting between the two teams in the Lebanese basketball championship, taking place in the most emblematic venue of this confrontation, Saeb Salam-Manara stadium, the historic home ground of al- Riyadi Beirut, holder of the record for most victories between the two teams.
Back to Manara
After the match at Nouhad Noufal stadium in Zouk Mikael, the adopted ground of al- Riyadi club for its WASL championship matches, and the large crowd of supporters, where the number of fans of the yellow club reached 8,000 from all over Lebanon, al- Riyadi club will return to Manara (its usual ground) to take on La Sagesse in a match with first place in the Lebanese championship at stake.
Clash of the Titans
Speaking after Wednesday night’s match, al-Riyadi coach Ahmad Farran stressed that the last match has become a thing from the past and that the main aim is to focus on Saturday’s match to confirm first place. “There’s no choice but to win to avoid wasting the season’s fatigue on the local level,” added Farran.
For his part, La Sagesse coach Jad Al Hajj felt that Saturday’s game was just as tough as the WASL championship match, as al-Riyadi have an additional asset in the league, the presence of experienced player Ismail Ahmad, who does not take part with al-Riyadi’s team in official international tournaments. He highlighted the fact that Al-Riyadi presents more dangers in its stadium in Manara, even if the number of fans is smaller (the stands of the Nouhad Noufal stadium exceed those of Manara in capacity).
Key Players for Both Teams
There’s no doubt that the al-Riyadi club counts among its ranks the stars of the Lebanese national team, where the team’s play isn’t based on one player in particular. Danger can come from any player at any time, but it’s worth noting the consistent level of play from the team’s center, Elmedine Kikanovic, who has offered distinctive levels of play since the start of the season, averaging 17 points and 8 rebounds in 25 minutes of play. This plays into the hands of the yellow team, which has a number of skillful passers, led by team star Wael Arakji, in addition to captain Amir Saoud and playmaker Ali Mansour.
On the other hand, unlike al-Riyadi, La Sagesse relies on several shooting guards, including Jonathan Gibson, the team’s star, and Ahmad Ibrahim, who is enjoying one of his best seasons in terms of leadership in the Lebanese league, thanks to his calm and serenity. Looking at La Sagesse’s players this season, it’s impossible to miss the name of Aziz Abdelmassih without acknowledging his performance in leading La Sagesse to victory in several matches thanks to his three-pointers, being the best shooter of this distance in his team and in the league this season, and finally Mark Khoueiry “BOBO,” the loyal fierce fighter who knows no surrender.
As the match approaches, speculation and numbers no longer matter. All that remains is the determination and passion of the players who play for the name of al-Riyadi and La Sagesse.
Face to face… tomorrow at 9:00 PM.
