Lebanon’s Al Riyadi may play next year

Dubai: Multiple Lebanese champions Al Riyadi are open to accepting an invitation for the Al Shabab Basketball Championship here next year.

“We never refuse any invitation to play,” director Jawdat Shaker told Gulf News. “The only question is that we need to be free from all other assignments at the time of this competition.”

Al Riyadi have been one of the most successful clubs in the region after successfully defending their second Fiba Asian Champions Cup earlier this month. The 22-time national champions lifted their first Asian title exactly two years back with a pulsating 76-73 win in the final in Manila, Philippines, over defending champions Mahram of Iran.

“For us, we are convinced we are at the top of Asia again and I consider this as an auspicious sign,” Shaker said. “We have a strong team, a great coaching squad and a dedicated committee backing every move that we make.

“We are always preparing for any tournament that may come our way, either at the Gulf level or the Arab level. And if the dates do suit us then Dubai will definitely get the chance of seeing Riyadi in action here.”