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3. Riyadi Asserts Its Dominance Over Lebanese Basketball

Victorious over La Sagesse (92-77) on Friday at Manara in Game 5 of the finals, Riyadi closed the series 4-1 to claim its 38th national title. Undisputed.

In a packed Manara arena, Riyadi ended all suspense.

After a balanced start and a slight lead for the Greens, the Yellows accelerated in the second quarter and never looked back.

 

Mastery in Yellow

 

By halftime, the game was nearly sealed (57-43). The third quarter only confirmed the trend (73-51). Solid, focused, and dominant, Ahmad Farran’s men maintained control until the final buzzer, winning 92-77 in a match they managed to perfection.

 

A Title Without Flinching

 

Without their playmaker Wael Arakji, still injured, Ahmad Farran’s men handled the task perfectly. The American duo Hunt and DeShields shone with 20 points each, well supported by Hayk Gyokchyan (14 pts, 12 rebounds) and Thon Maker (13 pts). On the other side, La Sagesse suffered from a lack of consistency and impact from its foreign players. Gerard Hadidian (14 pts), Mark Khoueiry (13 pts), and Sekou Doumbouya (9 pts, 13 rebounds) tried to step up, but never truly threatened the champions.

 

A Coronation, A Confirmation

 

With this new title — the 38th in its history (and the 6th for Farran) — Riyadi confirms its grip on Lebanese basketball. Three consecutive titles, national domination, and a praised regional campaign — despite losing the BCLA final — cap off a near-perfect season.

 

The final whistle unleashed an entire arena. Right after, Amir Saoud lifted the trophy in front of his people, surrounded by teammates and fireworks. The trophy ceremony sparked an explosion of joy, followed by celebrations lasting late into the night. Yellow covered Beirut.

 

Yellow Banner

 

Facing an inconsistent Sagesse — at times brilliant, but often shaky — the Beirut club executed its game plan. After two initial wins at Manara and Ghazir, the Greens briefly reignited hope on Tuesday (with a win at Manara), before collapsing on Wednesday and again on Friday. The series ended as it began: under the yellow banner.