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Sagesse: Sex Threes Are Not Enough: Lebanese Basketball’s Shooting Crisis Exposed

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Three-point shooting is no longer a luxury in modern basketball. It is not a bonus. It is not a “nice addition.” It is a fundamental pillar of the game. And what we witnessed in the Sagesse vs Astana game is a painful reminder of how far Lebanese basketball still is from embracing this reality. Let’s start with the raw numbers. Sagesse finished the game with 6 three-pointers made out of 22 attempts. That is 18 points from beyond the arc out of a total of 102. Astana, on the other hand, knocked down 19 three-pointers out of 45 attempts. That is 57 points from three out of their 104 total. Read that again. Astana scored 39 more points from three-point range than Sagesse. You don’t need advanced analytics to understand the story of the game. The difference is right there. Basketball at the highest level today is a spacing game. Teams stretch the floor, punish help defense, and create driving lanes by forcing opponents to respect shooters. When you cannot shoot, everything becomes harder. ...
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Champville: This Is Not How a Champion Should Fall

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Champville Maristes is not just another basketball club. This is a championship-winning organization, a team that lifted the Lebanese title in 2012 and was once synonymous with pride, identity, and competitiveness. Today, that same club is standing on the edge of relegation to Division 2. Let that sink in. What we are witnessing is not bad luck. It is not coincidence. It is not “just a tough season.” It is the direct result of years of disastrous administrative decisions, stubbornness, and complete detachment from reality. The roster that remains today is clearly not good enough. Everyone can see it. And yet, the administration — led by Ibrahim Mnassa — continues to insist on refusing the return of Lebanese players who left because of decisions HE personally took. You cannot push players away, burn bridges, then act surprised when the squad collapses. Let’s be very honest: If you do not have the budget to build a competitive Division 1 team, there is no shame in playing Division 2. Non...
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WASL West Asia Picture Becoming Clear: Astana Close to First Place as Semi-Final Matchups Take Shape

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With only a few games left in the FIBA WASL West Asia regular phase, the picture is becoming clearer, and everything points toward two heavyweight semi-final matchups that could define the tournament. At this stage, there is a very strong chance that the West Asia Semi-Finals will shape up as: Astana vs Sagesse Riyadi vs Gorgan Image : WASL Image : WASL The current standings explain why this scenario is taking form: 1. Astana (5–1) 2. Riyadi (4–2) 3. Gorgan (3–2) 4. Sagesse (2–4) 5. Al Wahda (0–5) Astana currently sit at the top with a 5–1 record and still have two games remaining in Lebanon, against Riyadi and Al Wahda. On paper, Astana should handle Al Wahda, which would push their record to 6–1 and further solidify their position as table leaders. That leaves Riyadi with one clear mission: beat Astana next week — and not just win, but win by at least 14 points. Astana won the first leg (“aller”) by 13 points, meaning Riyadi need a +14 victory to swing the head-to-head tiebreaker and...
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Sagesse Fall in Overtime to Astana as Frustrations Continue in WASL

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Sagesse’s painful overtime loss against Astana (104–102) in the FIBA WASL – West Asia League was not just another defeat. It felt like a boiling point for a fanbase that is slowly losing patience, and social media after the game reflected exactly that: anger, frustration, and serious questions about the team’s direction. From a pure numbers perspective, the game had positive individual performances. Walter Hodge delivered 31 points, while Astana’s E.J. Day exploded for 38. Paris Bass added 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Kevin Murphy chipped in 20. On paper, Sagesse stayed competitive until the final seconds. But basketball is not only about box scores. It is about identity, rotation management, and trust within the roster — and that is where the cracks are becoming impossible to ignore. One of the biggest talking points is the almost complete absence of the Lebanese bench. Jad Khalil and Ali Haidar did not see the floor. Against Tadamon Hrajel earlier, the bench was also barely used. F...
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UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan Set for International Tournament Ahead of FIBA Asia World Cup qualifiers window

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The national teams of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan will participate in an international tournament taking place from February 20 to February 24 in the UAE, as part of their preparation for the upcoming FIBA international window and World Cup qualifiers. The UAE, coming off an impressive showing in the Dubai Tournament, will host the event, continuing their momentum and testing their squad against two strong regional opponents. The tournament will offer valuable minutes, lineup experimentation, and competitive rhythm for all three teams ahead of important continental commitments. With experienced cores, naturalized talent, and emerging local players, the three rosters reflect a growing level of competitiveness in  Below are the announced rosters for each national team: 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates – Roster # Player Name Position Height (cm) Birth Year Club 2 Ahmed Albreiki PG 175 1994 Shabab Al Ahli 3 Hamid Albreiki F 190 2000 Shabab Al Ahli 4 Mohamed Alhashmi G 1...
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Blockbuster NBA Trade: Cavaliers Land James Harden, Clippers Acquire Darius Garland in Franchise-Altering Deal

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In one of the most surprising moves of the season, the Los Angeles Clippers have agreed to trade James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland and a second-round draft pick, according to reports from Shams Charania. This blockbuster deal immediately reshapes the landscape in both conferences. For Cleveland, acquiring Harden represents a clear “win-now” move. The Cavaliers add one of the league’s most accomplished offensive engines — a former MVP, elite playmaker, and proven playoff performer. Harden’s ability to control tempo, create shots for teammates, and shoulder late-game scoring responsibilities could push Cleveland into serious Eastern Conference contention. Pairing Harden with Cleveland’s core gives the Cavs a different offensive dimension they have lacked in recent seasons: a true ball-dominant creator who can bend defenses and generate high-quality looks on every possession. His experience and basketball IQ may also prove invaluable in high-pressure p...
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Women Lebanese league: Azour Dominate NSA in Round 6 with Convincing 74–41 Victory

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Azour Sporting Club delivered a dominant performance in Round 6 of the Lebanese Women’s Basketball League, cruising to a convincing 74–41 victory over NSA in the third game of the round. From the opening tip, Azour Sporting Club set the tone with strong defensive pressure and efficient execution on both ends of the floor. After taking a 15–9 lead in the first quarter, Azour gradually increased the gap in the second period (21–18), before completely taking control in the third quarter with a decisive 28–9 run that essentially put the game out of reach. The final quarter (10–5) sealed a comfortable and well-managed win. Azour’s offensive balance and defensive intensity were on full display, led by an outstanding all-around performance from Elisa Grissett, who finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. She was a constant presence in the paint and in transition, setting the rhythm for her team. Sabrina Haines also made a major impact, recording 12 points, 5 re...
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