FIBA Asia’s West Asia Super League (WASL) Final 8 basketball tournament will kick off at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall today.

Six teams will play today in the tournament, which is expected to mark a significant milestone in Qatar’s journey towards hosting the 2027 Basketball World Cup.

While two-time Gulf League champions Kuwait Club will open proceedings against India’s Tamil Nadu at 3pm, Iran’s Shahrdari Gorgan will take on Kuwait’s Kazma at 6pm. Bahrain’s Manama will play Lebanon’s CS Sagesse at 9pm.

The GULF League champions kick off the FIBA WASL final 8 series against Tamil Nadu. Who will start the series with a win? Share your predictions and let’s get the ball rolling!#FIBAWASL #WASL #KuwaitSC #TamilNadu #Doha pic.twitter.com/X8R0fE5BE7

— WestAsiaSuperLeague (@OfficialWASL) May 25, 2024

The WASL Final 8 will feature eight teams in two groups. While Group A consists of back-to-back sub-zone champions Al Riyadi (Lebanon), defending WASL champions Manama, Sagesse Sports Club, and BC Astana, Group B has Kuwait Club, Shahrdari Gorgan, Kazma, and Tamil Nadu in it.

The tournament’s group phase will run from May 25 to 29, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the semifinals on May 31. The finalists will vie for the WASL Final 8 trophy on June 1. The losing semifinalists will compete for third place.

The two finalists will book a ticket to Dubai, UAE, for the inaugural Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) from June 9 to 15. They will compete with six others for the right to become the continent’s best club.

Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) President Mohammed Saad Al Mughaiseeb said the tournament was a significant opportunity to elevate the country’s status as a prominent sports destination. He said it would also help them prepare for the 2027 World Cup.

“It’ll play a vital role in preparing and giving necessary training for individuals on various areas such as operations and services, enabling them to acquire necessary experience and skills ahead of major competitions,” said the QBF President.

Qatar has, in recent years, hosted consecutive FIBA U16 Asia Cups in 2022 and 2023. Qatar also hosted the FIBA Asia Cup, the continent’s flagship basketball tournament, in 2005.

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