Al Riyadi - Sagesse 113-97

Al Riyadi defended their LBL title. They breezed past Sagesse in the fifth game of the title series to repeat as the champions. The hosts trailed by 4 points at the halftime before their 66-46 charge in the second half, which allowed them to win the game. Al Riyadi made 25-of-31 free shots (80.6 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. 24 personal fouls committed by Sagesse helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. International guard Wael Arakji (193-1994) stepped up and scored 24 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists (on 9-of-10 shooting from the field) for the winners and American guard Jonathon Simmons (198-1989, college: Houston) chipped in 28 points and 5 rebounds. International power forward Karim Ezzeddine (206-1997, college: N.Mexico) responded with 25 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists and American point guard Jonathan Gibson (188-1987, college: NM State) scored 27 points (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line). Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures.
Top scorers:
Al Riyadi: J.Simmons 28+5reb+2ast, T.Maker 24+11reb, W.Arakji 24+7reb+6ast, K.Zeinoun 16+3ast, E.Kikanovic 8+4reb+2ast, A.Mansour 6+6reb+5ast
Sagesse: J.Gibson 27+2reb+2ast, K.Ezzeddine 25+9reb+4ast, C.Early 21+4reb+2ast, N.Rakocevic 10+5reb+3ast, M.Khoueiry 5+2reb+1ast, A.Ibrahim 5+4reb+2ast

Finals MVP: Jonathon Simmons (198-G-1989) of Al Riyadi
Player of the Year: Elmedin Kikanovic (211-C-1988) of Al Riyadi
Guard of the Year: Wael Arakji (193-G-1994) of Al Riyadi
Forward of the Year: Dewayne Jackson (203-F-1990) of Homentmen
Center of the Year: Elmedin Kikanovic (211-C-1988) of Al Riyadi
Import Player of the Year: Elmedin Kikanovic (211-C-1988) of Al Riyadi
Domestic Player of the Year: Wael Arakji (193-G-1994) of Al Riyadi
Defensive Player of the Year: Calvin Godfrey (204-F-1990) of NSA
Coach of the Year: Ahmad Farran of Al Riyadi

First Team
Wael Arakji (193-G-1994) of Al Riyadi
Dar Tucker (193-SG-1988) of Beirut Club
Sergio El Darwich (194-G-1996) of Beirut Club
Dewayne Jackson (203-F-1990) of Homentmen
Elmedin Kikanovic (211-C-1988) of Al Riyadi

Second Team
Ali Mezher (182-PG-1994) of Beirut Club
Manny Harris (197-SG-1989) of Al Riyadi
Jonathan Gibson (188-PG-1987) of Sagesse
Javion Blake (191-G-1997) of Al Nasr
Gerard Hadidian (201-F-1995) of Homentmen

Asia-Basket.com All-Lebanese League Honorable Mention 2024

Gyokchyan

Haidar

Thomas

Davis

Daniel

Bruner

Harvey

Godfrey

Zaloum

Al-Khoury

Honorable Mention
Hayk Gyokchyan (203-F-1990) of Al Riyadi
Mohamad Haidar (203-F/C-1990) of Beirut Club
Ibrahima Thomas (213-F-1987) of Douanes
Jordan Davis (188-G-1997) of Antonine
Ed Daniel (202-F/C-1990) of Antonine
Jordan Bruner (208-F-1997) of Antranik
Christian Harvey (185-G) of Antranik
Calvin Godfrey (204-F-1990) of NSA
Joseph Zaloum (180-PG-1990) of NSA
Mark Al-Khoury (196-F/G-1998) of Hoops
Christophe Khalil (192-G/F-1999) of Mayrouba

Asia-Basket.com Lebanese League All-Domestic Players Team 2024

Arakji

Mezher

El Darwich

Haidar

Hadidian

All-Domestic Players Team
Wael Arakji (193-G-1994) of Al Riyadi
Ali Mezher (182-PG-1994) of Beirut Club
Sergio El Darwich (194-G-1996) of Beirut Club
Mohamad Haidar (203-F/C-1990) of Beirut Club
Gerard Hadidian (201-F-1995) of Homentmen

Asia-Basket.com Lebanese League All-Imports Team 2024

Harris

Tucker

Blake

Jackson

Kikanovic

All-Imports Team
Manny Harris (197-SG-1989) of Al Riyadi
Dar Tucker (193-SG-1988) of Beirut Club
Javion Blake (191-G-1997) of Al Nasr
Dewayne Jackson (203-F-1990) of Homentmen
Elmedin Kikanovic (211-C-1988) of Al Riyadi

Strong Group Athletics (SGA) absorbed a heartbreaking 77-74 loss to Al Riyadi of Lebanon in the Dubai International Basketball Championship final on Monday morning (Manila time) at Al Nasr Club. Strong Group battled back from 17 points down but only to lose on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by 47-year-old Ismail Ahmed Abdelmonei. It was the only loss by the Philippine side, which was tipped to sweep the competition with former NBA veterans Howard Dwight (211-C-1985), Andre Roberson (201-F-1991, college: Colorado) and Blatche Andray (211-F/C-1986) in tow. Roberson, the ex-Oklahoma City defensive specialist, powered SGA with 24 points and 13 rebounds but missed a potential go-ahead basket with 11 seconds left. Howard, the eight-time NBA All-Star, also notched a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Fil-Australian guard Jordan Heading (188-G-1996, college: CBU) also played a vital role in the second-half surge for SGA with 17 points, including a triple that knotted the count at 74. American guard McKenzie Moore (198-G-1992, college: UTEP) chipped in 12 points off the bench but injured his right leg midway through the fourth quarter. Key cogs Blatche Andray and Kevin Quiambao struggled. Blatche scored just three points while Quiambao was scoreless after missing all of his five shots from the field. Former PBA import Manny Harris (197-SG-1989, college: Michigan, agency: Slash Sports) led the Lebanese side with 23 points and seven rebounds while national team mainstay Wael Arakji (193-G-1994) finished with 16 points, scoring 14 at the half. Abdelmoneim, a 30-year pro, finished with 10 points highlighted by the championship-clinching shot that led to a wild celebration inside the court and silenced the Filipino faithful in Dubai. Down 59-42, Roberson and Heading conspired in a 23-2 run to put SGA in the driver’s seat, 65-61, early in the fourth quarter. However, the Lebanese regained the momentum, 72-67, after Amir Saoud’s triple in the final three minutes. SGA swept the five-game group stage before beating AS Sale of Morocco in the quarterfinal and Beirut Sports Club in the semifinal. The Philippine side surpassed its previous Dubai stint last year when the squad, led by Renaldo Balkman (201-F-1984, college: S.Carolina), Nick Young, and Shabazz Muhammad, got eliminated in the quarterfinal. But SGA couldn’t bring home the crown, which was won by Mighty Sports in 2020.
Courtesy of: sports.inquirer.net/