The FIBA West Asia Super League has already commenced its first season in the 2022-23 season. It is currently the fastest-growing league in the world, showcasing the top basketball clubs from the West Asia and Gulf region, as well as representatives from South Asia and Kazakhstan. Take a look at the strongest teams to watch in this intense and new league.
Al Manama
Al Manama, also known as the Manama Club, is a Bahraini pro basketball team playing in the Bahraini Premier League. They are the most successful team in the league with 24 championships (18 Cup titles and 5 Super Cup titles).
They are also the champions of the inaugural season of the FIBA WASL under Coach Linos Gavrielm, defeating the formidable Kuwait Club in the finals. Al Manama boasts an impressive roster, with Ahmed Haji, Hasan Mohamed, Ali Rashed, and Ahmed Akber being some of the reasons for the team’s success.
Kuwait SC
Also known as the Kuwait Club, this squad is a Kuwaiti pro basketball team currently playing in the Kuwaiti Division I Basketball League. They have shown their dominance in the game by taking home 14 Kuwaiti Division I Basketball League titles, one Arab Club Basketball Championship, and finishing as runners-up in the first season of the FIBA West Asia Super League.
Apart from being the runners-up of the FIBA WASL 2022-23 season, they were also the champions of the WASL Gulf League, defeating Manama in the finals. They are currently under the leadership of Peter Schomers, and boast a great roster including Caday Lalanne, Mustafa Matwali, and Jacob Pullen.
BC Astana
The Astana Basketball Club is a prominent Kazakh professional basketball club that has been part of the basketball scene since 2011. They are currently competing in the Kazakhstan Championship, VTB United League, and the FIBA West Asia Super League where they showcase their excellence and strength, proving that they are a team to watch out for.
When it comes to achievements, BC Astana is no stranger to trophies. They won 11 championship titles at the Kazakhstan Basketball Cup, 11 championship titles at the Kazakhstan Basketball Championships, a Bronze medal in the 2017 FIBA Asia Champions Cup, and most recently, a Bronze medal from the 2022-23 FIBA WASL.
Al Riyadi Beirut
Al Riyadi Club Beirut is a multi-sport club based in Lebanon that has been part of the sports scene since 1943. When it comes to basketball, the club is enjoying a steady and successful career. They boast an impressive record of 30 championship titles in the Lebanese Basketball League, 4 in the Lebanese Basketball Cup, and 2 in the Lebanese Basketball Super Cup.
On the international level, Beirut has achieved remarkable success, having won the FIBA Asian Champions Cup twice, the Arab Club Championship five times, the WABA Champions Cup four times, the Dubai Basketball Championship nine times, and most recently, the FIBA West Asia League championship title.
Shabab Al Ahli
Shabab Al Ahli is an Emirati club based in Dubai. They have competed in the UAE National Basketball League, the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, and the FIBA West Asia Super League. They have been a dominant force in the domestic UAE National Basketball League, winning nine consecutive championship titles from 2014 to 2023, with the exception of the 2020 season where they finished as runners-up.
In the 2022-23 FIBA West Asia Super League, Shabab Al Ahli also secured the runners-up position in the WASL Gulf League. They are currently under the leadership of head coach Zoran Zupcevic and boast an impressive roster that includes skilled players such as Hamad Balabed, Brandon Triche, and Hamid Albreiki.
Al Hilal
Al Hilal is a Saudi club based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. They are currently competing in the Saudi Premier League, where they won a total of five championship titles, with the 2022 season being the most recent. The team also boasts 68 official titles including domestic competitions.
They have also demonstrated an impressive performance in the 2022-23 FIBA WASL, where they secured the runners-up title in the Sub-zone championship, the WASL Gulf League. Some of their standout players include Nick Griffin, Zaid Alabbs, Mustafa Fadhil, and Nasser Alabsi.
The FIBA West Asia Super League may be new to the scene, but there is no doubt that the competing clubs have a long history of success in their respective national careers. Moreover, the FIBA WASL is expected to continue introducing skilled teams and players, promising intense matches that you can always look forward to.