"Kuwait Basket" Faces Al-Riyadi in "Asian Eight Final"

Kuwait Club will face a tough clash against Lebanese side Al-Riyadi, the champions of the past two seasons, at 8:45 PM tomorrow, Monday, in the second round of Group A matches in the final eight of the West Asia Basketball League “WABA,” hosted by Lebanese club Al-Hekma and running until October 4 next.

Both teams enter the match with two points each after securing impressive victories in their tournament openings. “Al-Abyad” (Kuwait) defeated Saudi Al-Ittihad 105-97 in a thrilling match that remained intense until its final minutes.

Kuwait dominated for long stretches before Al-Ittihad managed to rally in the final quarter, narrowing the gap to three points at 100-97. However, “Al-Amid” (Kuwait) maintained composure and sealed the victory with a three-pointer by Hamad Adnan with 45.6 seconds remaining, followed by Alexander Algeis completing the job from the free-throw line.

On the individual front, American Day Day Grant stood out with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists, while his compatriot Chinano Onakwo added 29 points and 12 rebounds. Algeis, Mohammed Adnan, and American Christian Brown each scored 11 points, while American Amori Archibald was the standout player for Al-Ittihad with 34 points and 9 assists.

Al-Riyadi, however, quickly turned the tables, led by Americans Donovan Williams, Nick West, and Zach Lofton, to finish the first quarter ahead 54-42. They extended their lead to 26 points after halftime and secured a decisive victory.

Williams was the match’s star with 28 points and 12 rebounds, West contributed 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Lofton scored 16 points in his return to the team, which he helped win the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy title.

Both teams’ strong offensive starts provide a common factor ahead of their direct encounter: Kuwait scored 105 points, while Al-Riyadi reached 104, reflecting the offensive power they displayed in the first round.