ZOUK MIKAEL (Lebanon) - Al Riyadi secured their spot in the Semi-Finals of the FIBA WASL Final 8 with an 87-76 victory over Ittihad Club, maintaining a perfect 3-0 record in Group A. Hayk Gyokchyan praised the team’s collective effort, especially after overcoming a slow start that allowed Ittihad to build a 12-point lead in the second quarter.
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Gyokchyan emphasized the importance of staying motivated and positive throughout the game. "When we wear the Riyadi jersey, it's expected from us to be at our best at every single game," he stated. The team’s performance was particularly impressive given their absence of key players, including veteran point guard Amir Saoud and Zach Lofton due to medical reasons.
"It was also the 'next man up' mentality. We were missing two key players on our team. Everyone else stepped up, tried to do our best," Gyokchyan noted after the game.
With this victory, Al Riyadi extended their winning streak in the FIBA WASL Final 8 to 13 games. They are also aiming for a third consecutive championship after winning the title in 2024 and finishing fourth in 2023.
The team, coached by Ahmad Farran, hopes to leverage their home-court advantage at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex in the upcoming matches. However, they face stiff competition in the Semi-Finals from teams like Sagesse SC, Kuwait Club, and either Al Ula Club or Shahrdari Gorgan, all eager to challenge Riyadi's reign as champions.