Zob Ahan, Shahrdari Gorgan Know Rivals at WASL
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Zob Ahan and Shahrdari Gorgan basketball teams learned their rivals at the West Asian Super League (WASL) and West Asia and Persian Gulf Leagues in the Official Draw Ceremony that took place on Friday in Beirut, Lebanon.
The teams playing in the WASL Sub-Zone leagues are coming from 11 countries, namely Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE, and will all be competing in the first steps towards spots in the prestigious club competitions at the regional and global level.
WASL - West Asia
Group A: Beirut First Club (LBN), Ittihad Ahli (SYR), Orthodox Ramallah (PLE), Zob Ahan Isfahan BC (IRI)
Group B: Shahrdari Gorgan (IRI), Al Naft SC (IRQ), Al Karamah SC (SYR) Al Riyadi Beirut (LBN)
WASL – Persian Gulf
Group A: Al Hilal (KSA), Shabab Al Ahli (UAE), Al Bashaer Club (OMA), Kazma SC (KUW)
Group B: Manama Club (BRN), Al Sadd SC (QAT), Kuwait SC (KUW), Al Nassr (KSA)
Each Sub-Zone league consists of eight (8) teams divided into two (2) groups of four (4). Each team will play the other team at home and away. The top team from each group will advance to the Semi-Finals, while the second and third will face-off in qualification to Semi-Finals match-ups.
Eventually, the top three teams from WASL West Asia League and WASL Persian Gulf League will qualify for the WASL Final eight, where they will be joined by Champions of South Asia and Central Asia.
The WASL Final eight finalists will qualify for FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2023, on the road to FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2023, FIBA’s highest club competition.
“This is a very significant day in the history of basketball in Asia,” said FIBA Executive Director - Asia, Hagop Khajirian before the start of the draw.
“I’m as excited as any of you to report this moment, this day in the history of Asian basketball. Today, FIBA Regional Office - Asia takes the first step towards consolidating all the games that have been achieved over the last few years and presenting to the millions of fans a synchronized, sustainable, and systematic competition for clubs that goes hand in hand with FIBA’s strategic goal of developing national teams,” he added.
