Game Photos. Game Details and Stats

BEIRUT, Lebanon (23rd FIBA Asia Champions Cup): Defending champions and hosts Al Riyadi Beirut scored the first 17 points of the game and took the wind off Turkmen team Belent Asgabat’s sails early on and then cruised along to for a 116-65 win, and book their second successive entry into the final of the FIBA Asia Champions Cup.

Seasoned point guard Ali Mahmoud led the Riyadi barrage succeeding twice from the foul line, once from the perimeter and once on the paint as the Manara went about their business without much ado.

Ali Kanaan took Egyptian Ismail Ahmad’s position – as power forward – in Riyadi’s starting line-up and was as solid and strong as Ahmad Ibrahim, Jean Abd El Nour and Omar El Turk – the last mentioned coming off the bench as early as the third minute – enjoyed another easy day in office setting another easy win for their team.

Aleksandr Kozlov ended the barren run for Belent much after the midway mark of the first quarter, but by then Riyadi had virtually sealed the fate of the issue – much like they had when the two teams met in the opening game of the competition here when Riyadi won 116-54 (Game report).

Amir Saoud (pic above), who too came off the bench, poured in a colossal 45 points to lead Riyadi’s scoring.

“The most important game is coming up on Monday,” said Saoud referring to the gold medal, which has been rescheduled to Monday due to the National Mourning in Lebanon.

“All these wins will come to a nought if we don’t get our act together in that game,” said Mahmoud.

All Riyadi players except Ismail Ahmad scored.

Kozlov’s 16 points was the highest for Belent.

FIBA Asia