Al Riyadi, Shahrdary Gorgan complete inaugural BCL Asia cast
DOHA (Qatar) - Two of West Asia's best clubs completed the inaugural BCL Asia ensemble.
BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Al Riyadi and Shahrdary Gorgan completed the cast of the inaugural Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) to be held in Dubai, UAE.
The proud organizations secured their tickets en route to Asia's most prestigious club competition after securing podium finishes in the recently-concluded FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) Final 8 2024 at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall in Doha, Qatar.
Al Riyadi emerged as champions following a thrilling 100-90 overtime victory over Sagesse SC in a Beirut Derby-themed Final on Saturday, June 1, also securing the first league double as they are also the defending two-time West Asia Sub-Zone League champions.
Gorgan, on the other hand, finished third after taking down reigning back-to-back Gulf League winners Kuwait Club in the Third-Place Game through a 92-76 decision.
Following those results, the groupings for the BCL Asia have been finalized, with Al Riyadi going into Group A while Gorgan will be in Group B based on the draw last May 31.
Group A - Liaoning Flying Leopards, Shabab Al Ahli-Dubai, NS Matrix Deers, Al Riyadi
Group B - Hiroshima Dragonflies, Shahrdary Gorgan, KCC Egis, Pelita Jaya Basketball
After the single round-robin Group Phase, he top two teams of each group will advance to the crossover Semi-Finals, with the no. 1 seeds set to face the second seeds of the opposite pool.
Winners will then vie for the crown in a one-game Final bout, where the winner will not only be crowned as the first-ever BCL Asia champions but will also earn the right to represent the continent in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, FIBA's highest club competition.
Formerly known as the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, the BCL Asia is scheduled on June 9-15 in the Emirati city, which has previously hosted the Champions Cup twice in the past.
FIBA