ZOUK MIKAEL (Lebanon) - Sagesse SC reached the FIBA WASL Final after defeating Kuwait Club 87-74 in the 2026 Semi-Finals held Saturday night at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex. After a strong second quarter, Sagesse extended their lead in the third and secured a solid finish, continuing their dominance over Kuwait Club, a team they previously defeated at the same stage in 2024.
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Sagesse will face Al Riyadi in the Final, marking another opportunity to contend for the championship as they seek to halt Al Riyadi’s pursuit of a historic three-peat in this regional tournament. This matchup also serves as a rematch of the 2025-26 Lebanese Basketball Championship Finals, where Sagesse lost in a tense seven-game series.
Head coach Joe Ghattas praised his team's effort, stating, "Kuwait came into the game ready but Sagesse never backed down. We showed real fight - we fought for every ball, we fought for every possession. We deserve to be here."
AJ English led Sagesse with 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, marking a strong comeback after missing the previous game for medical reasons. Deshawndre Washington contributed 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. Despite early foul trouble, Jamal Jones added 18 points, helping maintain control after Youssef Khayat left the game due to an ankle injury in the third quarter.
With Khayat's exit at the 8:05 mark of the third quarter, Sagesse pushed their lead to 63-46, highlighted by a 10-0 run from Karim Ezzedine and their foreign players. Ezzedine and Jones later helped steady the team as Kuwait Club attempted a comeback, cutting an 18-point deficit to 7 with 3:33 remaining.
In the losing effort, Kuwait Club’s Christian Brown and Dae Dae Grant each scored 20 points, contributing 9 rebounds together. The Hasan brothers, Moh and Hamad, added 11 points each. Kuwait Club will face Al Ula Club in the Third-Place Game on Sunday.