Sagesse Secures Second Win in FIBA WASL Final 8 with Victory Over Al Ula

Khayat excelled in the first quarter, netting 17 points to help Sagesse establish a 24-16 lead. Washington took over in the second frame, matching Khayat's intensity by adding another 17 points, keeping Sagesse ahead at halftime.

In the fourth quarter, Washington's standout plays, supported by teammates AJ English, Aziz Abdel Massih, and Karim Ezzedine, ensured Sagesse maintained control despite Al Ula's attempts to rally. Their crucial three-pointers staved off any comeback efforts from the Arabian Leopards, placing Sagesse at the top of Group B with a perfect 2-0 record and securing a spot in the Semi-Finals on Saturday.

Coach Joe Ghattas expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, stating, "Really happy with the win. The team showed great performance. All the credit goes to the players; they really stuck to the plan. They were disciplined and fought for 40 minutes."

Sagesse's AJ English was the only other player to reach double figures, scoring 10 points, as Al Ula's defense concentrated on him and Jamal Jones. Despite being limited to just 2 points, Washington and Khayat capitalized, combining for a total of 67 points.

Al Ula's head coach, Izzat Ismail, acknowledged difficulties in defending Washington, who scored 39 points and caused foul trouble for his players. He noted, "He was leading, and we were following."

Despite the loss, Al Ula's David Michineau had a standout performance, scoring 35 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Mohammed Alsuwailem also registered a double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds, while Elijah Stewart and Mitch Creek added 16 and 14 points, respectively. Al Ula briefly held a 61-60 lead late in the third quarter, but Khayat and Washington responded with a critical 9-0 run to regain the lead.