Al Riyadi Beirut in the 2025 AFC Champions League Final
Al Riyadi Beirut Advances to AFC Basketball Champions League Final Despite the Absence of Star Wael Arakji
Al Riyadi Beirut has secured a spot in the AFC Basketball Champions League final, where they will face Japan’s Utsunomiya Brex.
The Lebanese team advanced to the final following a commanding 100–78 victory over Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE in the semi-final, held Thursday evening at Shabab Al Ahli Arena in Dubai.
Despite missing star player Wael Arakji due to a season-ending injury sustained in a previous match, Al Riyadi started strong, closing the first quarter ahead by two points (20–18). They extended their lead in the second quarter with a 29–22 performance, entering halftime with a 9-point advantage.
Shabab Al Ahli attempted to mount a comeback in the third quarter, edging it 25–24. However, Al Riyadi regained control in the fourth quarter, outscoring their opponents 27–13 to seal a convincing win built on a cohesive team performance.
Haik Gyokchyan led the way for Al Riyadi with 24 points and 11 rebounds, recording a double-double. Marcus Georges-Hunt contributed 21 points, while Ali Mansour delivered an all-around effort with 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists—just shy of a triple-double.
Karim Zenoun added 13 points and Thon Maker chipped in with 12, reflecting the team’s balanced and coordinated performance.
For Shabab Al Ahli, Deshondre Washington stood out with 30 points and 11 rebounds, and Jermaine Love added 19 points. However, their contributions were not enough to close the gap by the end of the game.
