Al Ula Secures Dominant 96-72 Victory Over Al Arabi in WASL Opener

Al Ula surged ahead to a commanding 25-8 start and concluded the first quarter with a substantial 30-10 lead, establishing the tone for the rest of the game as they led by as many as 31 points. Head coach Izzat Ismail emphasized the significance of the win, stating, "Yes, it was a statement. Like, we didn't come here just to participate. We came here to compete."

Four players from Al Ula scored in double figures during the matchup, with Elijah Stewart leading the pack. The BCL veteran achieved 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists without any turnovers, nearly recording a triple-double. He matched Al Arabi's total output with 10 points in the first quarter alone, providing an explosive start alongside teammates Mitch Creek and David Michineau. Creek also scored 22 points, along with 16 rebounds and 2 steals, while Michineau contributed 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. Abdulaziz Alalawi added 14 points.

Stewart, who was named Player of the Game, reflected on the team’s performance, saying, "We were up 30 at one point; I would've liked to keep that lead and rest some of our main players. But to come out with such a dominant win is very important."

Al Ula's next challenge will be against Sagesse SC on Tuesday, September 29, with the game beginning at 20:45 local time. Al Arabi, struggling with injuries, was led by Elmedin Kikanovic, who recorded 21 points and 9 rebounds, playing all 40 minutes. Mosti Rashed scored 14 points, while Khaled Abdelbaset and Abdulrahman Saad added 13 and 10 points, respectively. Kikanovic expressed disappointment, stating, "Unfortunately, we couldn't show our real face. Our team can play much better basketball than what we showed tonight."

Al Arabi will seek their first win in their next matchup against Shahrdari Gorgan on Tuesday.