Manama drawn in tough group for inaugural West Asia Super League

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain league champions Manama Club were yesterday drawn in a tough Group B of the first-ever edition of the West Asia Super League (WASL)—a new basketball competition sanctioned by FIBA, the sport’s global governing body.

The official draw ceremony was held in Beirut.

The Bahrainis are one of 16 teams in the inaugural WASL.

The nationals have been drawn in Group B of the Gulf sub-zone alongside Al Sadd SC of Qatar, Kuwait SC of Kuwait, and Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia.

Group A comprises Al Hilal of Saudi, Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE, Al Basheer Club of Oman and Kazma SC of Kuwait.

Meanwhile, the West Asia sub-zone includes Beirut First Club of Lebanon, Ittihad Ahli of Syria, Orthodox Ramallah of Palestine and Zobahan Isfahan BC of Iran in Group A; and Shahrdari Gorgan of Iran, Al Naft SC of Iraq, Al Karamah SC of Syria and Al Riyadi Beirut of Lebanon.

Each WASL sub-zone consists of eight teams divided into two groups of four.

Each team will play the other team home and away.

The top team from each group will then advance to the semi-finals, while the second and third will face-off in qualification to semi-finals matchups.

Eventually, the top three teams from WASL West Asia and WASL Gulf sub-zones will qualify for the WASL Final 8, where they will be joined by Champions of South Asia and Central Asia.

The WASL Final 8 finalists will qualify for FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2023, on the road to FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2023, FIBA’s highest club competition.