Asia-Basket.com All-WABA Awards

Vroman

Lett

Zahn

El Khatib

Kamrani

Best Player: Jackson Vroman (208-C/F-81) of Saba
Best Center: Ontario Lett (198-F-79) of Zain
Best Forward: Jackson Vroman of Saba
Best Guard: Mehdi Kamrani (181-G-82) of Mahram

1st Team
Ontario Lett of Zain
Jackson Vroman of Saba
Adam Zahn (203-F/C-84) of Al Karkh
Fadi El Khatib (197-F-79) of Al Riyadi
Mehdi Kamrani of Mahram

2nd Team
Priest Lauderdale (221-C-73) of Mahram
Hamed Sohrabnejad (205-C/F-83) of Mahram
Tony Williams (202-F-78) of Moutahed
Karam Ahmadian (197-F-77) of Saba
Sam Daghlas (197-G-79) of Zain

Mahram - Winners of 12th WABA Champions Cup
By Mohammed Malas, Saturday 21/3:

# Final Game:

Mahram (IRI) 96 - Zain 85 (Qs: 32-16, 52-42, 72-70 & 96-85)
- Best scorers:
Priest Lauderdale (221-C-73, college: Central State) '33 pts, 12 rbs' from Mahram
Oscar Yebra (200-F-74, agency: Court Side) '23 pts, 4 ast' from Mahram
Ontario Lett (198-F-79, agency: BrezoPro, college: Pittsburgh) '23 pts, 11 rbs' from Zain
Sam Daghlas (197-G-79, college: Midwestern St.) '20 pts, 7 ast' from Zain
Mike Christensen (203-G/F-85, agency: Pro Management Agency, college: New Hampshire) '19 pts' from Zain

# 3rd place:

Saba Mehr (IRI) 91 - Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut (LEB) 88 (Qs: 25-19, 49-45, 69-68 & 91-88)
- Best scorers:
Roderick Riley (210-C-81, agency: Elfus-Siegel Management (ESM), college: Prairie View A&M) '24 pts' from Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut
Mohamed Ibrahim (192-G-83) '21 pts' from Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut
Jeff Ngutar Varem (198-G/F-83, college: Washington St.) '20 pts' from Saba Mehr
Hamed Afagh (191-G-83) '18 pts' from Saba Mehr
Jackson Vroman (208-C/F-81, college: Iowa St.) '16 pts' from Saba Mehr

# Final Standings:
1- Mahram
2- Zain
3- Saba Mehr
4- Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut
5- Al Moutahed Tripoli
6- Orthodox
7- Al Karkh
8- Al Ahli Sanaa

Semi Finals - 12th WABA Champions Cup
- By Mohammed Malas, Friday 20/3:

# Semi-Finals, 12th Waba Champions Cup:

Mahram (IRI) 69 - Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut (LEB) 56 (Qs: 26-14, 38-30, 58-42 & 69-56)
- Best scorers:
Hamed Sohrabnejad (205-C/F-83) '20 pts, 13 rbs' from Mahram
Ahmad Ismail (201-F-76) '19 pts, 9 rbs, 6 TOs' from Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut
Fadi El Khatib (197-F-79, agency: Pro Management Agency) '17 pts, 6 TOs' from Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut
Priest Lauderdale (221-C-73, college: Central State) '15 pts, 10 rbs' from Mahram

Zain (JOR) 67 - Saba Mehr (IRI) 60 (Qs: 15-21, 32-39, 36-50 & 67-60)
- Best scorers:
Jackson Vroman (208-C/F-81, college: Iowa St.) '32 pts, 12 rbs' from Saba Mehr
Hamed Afagh (191-G-83) '22 pts' from Saba Mehr
Enver Soobzokov (193-G/F-78, college: Cal.St.-San Bernar.) '21 pts' from Zain
Moussa Al Awadi (190-G/F-85) '19 pts' from Zain
Ontario Lett (198-F-79, agency: BrezoPro, college: Pittsburgh) '19 pts' from Zain

# 7th Place game - 12th WABA Champions Cup (Jordan time, +2 GMT):
- Saturday 21/3:
10:00 Al Karkh - Al Ahli Sanaa

# 5th Place game - 12th WABA Champions Cup (Jordan time, +2 GMT):
- Saturday 21/3:
16:00 Al Moutahed Tripoli - Orthodox

# 3rd Place game - 12th WABA Champions Cup (Jordan time, +2 GMT):
- Saturday 21/3:
12:00 Saba Mehr - Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut

# Final game - 12th WABA Champions Cup (Jordna time, +2 GMT):
- Saturday 21/3:
18:00 Zain - Mahram

Quarter Finals - 12th WABA Champions Cup
- By Mohammed Malas, Wednesday 18/3:

# Quarter Finals:

Mahram (IRI) 112 - Al Karkh (IRQ) 83 (Qs: 21-21, 65-47, 95-66 & 112-83)
- Best scorers:
Oscar Yebra (200-F-74, agency: Court Side) '27 pts' from Mahram
Hamed Sohrabnejad (205-C/F-83) '21 pts' from Mahram
Mehdi Kamrani (181-G-82, agency: Huss Sport Agency) '19 pts' from Mahram
Hameed Radi '17 pts' from Al Karkh
Adam Zahn (203-F/C-84, college: Oregon) '16 pts' from Al Karkh

Saba Mehr (IRI) 82 - Al Moutahed Tripoli (LEB) 76 (Qs: 20-12, 32-26, 59-52 & 82-76)
- Best scorers:
Karam Ahmadian (197-F-77) '25 pts' from Saba Mehr
Darren Kelly (190-G-78, college: Texas) '25 pts' from Al Moutahed Tripoli
Jackson Vroman (208-C/F-81, college: Iowa St.) '18 pts' from Saba Mehr
Tony Williams (202-F-78, agency: ACMT, college: Louisville) '16 pts' from Al Moutahed Tripoli

Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut (LEB) 96 - Orthodox (JOR) 80 (Qs: 26-11, 47-30, 69-59 & 96-80)
- Best scorers:
Fadi El Khatib (197-F-79, agency: Pro Management Agency) '30 pts' from Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut
Damon Jackson (195-G-80, agency: R.H.Consultancy, college: Fresno St.) '17 pts' from Orthodox
Ayman Idais (205-C-78, agency: Court Side) '16 pts' from Orthodox
Roderick Riley (210-C-81, agency: Elfus-Siegel Management (ESM), college: Prairie View A&M) '14 pts' from Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut

Zain (JOR) 81 - Al Ahli Sanaa (YEM) 35 (Qs: 23-14, 40-17, 58-24b & 81-35)
- Best scorers:
Moussa Al Awadi (190-G/F-85) '19 pts' from Zain
Fadel Najjar (194-G-85) '15 pts' from Zain
Massine Ndekhu '14 pts' from Al Ahli Sanaa

# Semi Finals - 12th WABA Champions Cup (Jordan time, +2 GMT):
- Friday 20/3:
18:00 Mahram - Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut
20:00 Zain - Saba Mehr

Saba for semi final..and good performance for Moutahed
By Maarouf Mawloud First Five:
Saba Mehr(Iran): Jackson Vroman (208-C/F-81, college: Iowa St.), Hamed Afagh (191-G-83), Samer Vissi, Asgar Kardoust, Ngutor Varren
Al Moutahed Tripoli: Darren Kelly (190-G-78, college: Texas), Elie Roustom (191-F-87), Mohammad Fahes (195-F-82),Tony Williams (202-F-78, agency: ACMT, college: Louisville),Roy Samaha (205-F/C-84, agency: Pro Management Agency)

Saba Mehr players entered the game with high potential concentrated 100% to win this game, knowing that Al Moutahed Tripoli team isnt an easy team to overcome.
First quarter was a defensive quarter with a slight advantage for the Iranian team who made a good start with (6-2) 3 minutes from the start...Al Moutahed Tripoli missed a lot of easy layups yet managed to play good defense. The first quarter ended for Saba Mehr by 8 points 20-12.

Second quarter started with a good defense from the Lebanese team..Saba Mehr changed their defense twice in this quarter from man to man...to Zone Defense.In the second quarter, Saba Mehr maintained their lead and ended the quarter with 6 pts difference 32-26.
Both coaches knew that the stars of the third quarter would be the important factor in all the games...Saba Mehr increased the point diff to 49-31 5 minutes after the start of third quarter but Coach Toni Vujanic 's guys did a gigantic come back to the game and made 7 points in the same offense and a 12-0 run. The third quarter finished 52-57 for SABA. All eyes were on Al Moutahed Tripoli to see If he will continue his comeback. A 3pts for akkari 5 mins from the end turn the score to 62-63 but 3 consecutive Offensive Rebounds for saba give saba a 4 pts break 66-62...and the game ended 82-76 for Saba Mehr who qualified for the semi finals..And Al Moutahed Tripoli left this tournament with a good performance while the Lebanese Tournament awaits an even better performance that may allow them the championship throne for the first time in history.

Day 5 - 12th WABA Champions Cup
- By Mohammed Malas, Tuesday 17/3:

# Group A:

Mahram (IRI) 83 - Orthodox (JOR) 64 (Qs: 21-12, 47-31, 65-47 & 83-64)
- Best scorers:
Priest Lauderdale (221-C-73, college: Central State) '24 pts' from Mahram
Samad Bahrami (200-G/F-83, agency: ACMT) '20 pts' from Mahram
Ayman Idais (205-C-78, agency: Court Side) '16 pts' from Orthodox
Oscar Yebra (200-F-74, agency: Court Side) '14 pts' from Mahram
James Williams (206-C-78, college: Long Beach St.) '13 pts' from Orthodox

# Group B:

Al Karkh (IRQ) 97 - Al Jeish Army Damascus (SYR) 76 (Qs: 30-24, 55-38, 76-56 & 97-76)
- Best scorers:
Chad Hendrick (197-G/F-79, college: Houston) '34 pts' from Al Jeish Army Damascus
Adam Zahn (203-F/C-84, college: Oregon) '23 pts' from Al Karkh
Justin Johnson (183-G-83, college: Mississippi) '23 pts' from Al Karkh
Abdulla Kutaiba (197-F/G-80) '18 pts' from Al Karkh

Saba Mehr (IRI) 78 - Zain (JOR) 76 (Qs: 16-16, 38-36, 54-53 & 78-76)
- Best scorers:
Jackson Vroman (208-C/F-81, college: Iowa St.) '25 pts' from Saba Mehr
Mike Christensen (203-G/F-85, agency: Pro Management Agency, college: New Hampshire) '24 pts' from Zain
Hamed Afagh (191-G-83) '19 pts' from Saba Mehr
Ontario Lett (198-F-79, agency: BrezoPro, college: Pittsburgh) '16 pts' from Zain

# Quarter Finals - 12th WABA Champions Cup (Jordan time, +2 GMT):
- Wednesday 18/3:
13:00 Mahram - Al Karkh
15:00 Al Moutahed Tripoli - Saba Mehr
17:00 Orthodox - Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut
19:00 Al Ahli Sanaa - Zain

Day 4 - 12th WABA Champions Cup
- By Mohammed Malas, 16/3:

# Group A:

Saba Mehr (IRI) 86 - Al Jeish Army Damascus (SYR) 69 (Qs: 25-11, 42-35, 66-52 & 86-69)
- Best scorers:
Jackson Vroman (208-C/F-81, college: Iowa St.) '23 pts, 10 rbs' from Saba Mehr
Hamed Afagh (191-G-83) '18 pts, 4 ast' from Saba Mehr
Chad Hendrick (197-G/F-79, college: Houston) '14 pts, 4 ast' from Al Jeish Army Damascus

# Group B:

Al Moutahed Tripoli (LEB) 87 - Orthodox (JOR) 59 (Qs: 21-14, 43-29, 68-37 & 87-59)
- Best scorers:
Tony Williams (202-F-78, agency: ACMT, college: Louisville) '21 pts' from Al Moutahed Tripoli
Darren Kelly (190-G-78, college: Texas) '20 pts, 6 ast' from Al Moutahed Tripoli
James Williams (206-C-78, college: Long Beach St.) '17 pts, 14 rbs' from Orthodox
Ayman Idais (205-C-78, agency: Court Side) '16 pts' from Orthodox

Zain (JOR) 94 - Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut 86 (Qs: 18-19, 35-43, 58-67, 81-81 & OT: 94-88)
- Best scorers:
Ontario Lett (198-F-79, agency: BrezoPro, college: Pittsburgh) '28 pts, 19 rbs' from Zain
Ahmad Ismail (201-F-76) '28 pts, 17 rbs' from Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut
Sam Daghlas (197-G-79, college: Midwestern St.) '25 pts, 6 ast' from Zain
Fadi El Khatib (197-F-79, agency: Pro Management Agency) '20 pts' from Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut
Zaid Al Khas (205-C-76, college: Gannon) '17 pts, 12 rbs' from Zain
Omar El Turk (186-G-81, college: Dawson Coll.) '15 pts' from Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut

# Day 4 - 12th WABA Champions Cup:
- Tuesday 17/3
15:00 Al Jeish Army Damascus x Al Karkh
17:00 Orthodox x Mahram
19:00 Zain x Saba Mehr

Day 3 - 12th WABA Champions Cup
- By Mohammed Malas, Sunday: 15/3:

# Group A:

Mahram (IRI) 100 - Al Ahli Sanaa 64 (YEM) (Qs: 13-9, 43-27, 69-43 & 100-64)
- Best scorers:
Samad Bahrami (200-G/F-83, agency: ACMT) '21 points' from Mahram
Massine Ndukhu '17 pts' from Al Ahli Sanaa
Hamed Sohrabnejad (205-C/F-83) '16 pts' from Mahram
Saleh Al Asbahi (175-G-93) '14 pts' from Al Ahli Sanaa

# Group B:

Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut (LEB) 102 - Al Jeish Army Damascus (SYR) 72 (Qs: 25-12, 53-29, 78-52 & 102-72)
- Best scorers:
Fadi El Khatib (197-F-79, agency: Pro Management Agency) '36 pts' from Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut
Roderick Riley (210-C-81, agency: Elfus-Siegel Management (ESM), college: Prairie View A&M) '21 pts' from Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut
Nour Al Saman (188-G-78) '19 pts' from Al Jeish Army Damascus
Chad Hendrick (197-G/F-79, college: Houston) '19 pts' from Al Jeish Army Damascus

Saba Mehr (IRI) 98 - Al Karkh (IRQ) 56 (Qs: 26-14, 49-29, 71-42 & 98-56)
- Best scorers:
Abdulla Kutaiba (197-F/G-80) '22 pts' from Al Karkh
Jackson Vroman (208-C/F-81, college: Iowa St.) '18 pts' from Saba Mehr
Karam Ahmadian (197-F-77) '16 pts' from Saba Mehr
Ali Falih '14 pts' from Al Karkh

# Day 4 - 12th WABA Champions Cup (Jordan time, +2 GMT):
- Monday 17/3:
15:00 Saba Mehr - Al Jeish Army Damascus
17:00 Al Moutahed Tripoli - Orthodox
19:00 Zain - Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut

Al Jalaa's withdrawal!! - Mar. 15, 2009
By: Mohammed Malas

Al Jalaa Aleppo from Syria decided to withdraw from the tournament due to the refusal of the West Asian Federation (WABA) to register Marcelo Correa (208-C-77, college: San Diego St.) and Eder Araujo (213-F-81, agency: Pro Management Agency, college: Walsh (OH)) as local players.

WABA decided to get back to the legal committee in FIBA which advised to refuse the papers of Al Jalaa Aleppo proving that Eder and Marcelo are syrians...No strong evidences proves that the players had syrian origin either from their parents or grandpaernts, FIBA's regulations clarifies that any player who has dual citizenship must declare an only one sports nationality before being 16 years old or he will be considered as naturalized player.

Marcelo is the Son of Roberto and Lucia Helena Correa, His father Roberto was a member in the brazilian national team!, While Araujo was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1981, Son of Xenofonte and Jandira Araujo.

Day 2 - 12th WABA Champions Cup
- By Mohammed Malas, Saturday 14/3:

# Group A:

Al Moutahed Tripoli (LEB) 94 - Al Ahli Sanaa (YEM) 43 (Qs: 29-11, 58-27, 76-36 & 94-43)
- Best scorers:
Mohamed Akary (185-G-85) '26 pts' from Al Moutahed Tripoli
Sabri Sadaqa '16 pts' from Al Ahli Sanaa
Elie Roustom (191-F-87) '14 pts' from Al Moutahed Tripoli
Darren Kelly (190-G-78, college: Texas) '13 pts' from Al Moutahed Tripoli

Al Jalaa Aleppo (SYR) - Orthodox (JOR)
Al Jalaa decided to withdraw from the tournament due to the refusal of the West Asian Federation (WABA) to register Marcelo Correa (208-C-77, college: San Diego St.) and Eder Araujo (213-F-81, agency: Pro Management Agency, college: Walsh (OH)) as local players.

WABA decided to get back to the legal committee in FIBA which advised to refuse the papers of Al Jalaa proving that Eder and Marcelo are syrians...No strong evidences proves that the players had syrian origin either from their parents or grandpaernts, FIBA's regulations clarifies that any player who has dual citizenship must declare an only one sports nationality before being 16 years old or he will be considered as naturalized player.

# Group B:

Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut (LEB) 115 - Al Karkh (IRQ) 68 (Qs: 26-24, 56-30, 88-45 & 115-68)
- Best scorers:
Fadi El Khatib (197-F-79, agency: Pro Management Agency) '42 pts' from Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut
Ahmad Ismail (201-F-76) '20 pts' from Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut
Roderick Riley (210-C-81, agency: Elfus-Siegel Management (ESM), college: Prairie View A&M) '18 pts' from Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut
Abdulla Kutaiba (197-F/G-80) '17 pts' from Al Karkh

Zain (JOR) 89 - Al Jeish Army Damascus (SYR) 74 (Qs: 19-16, 37-35, 63-55 & 89-74)
- Best scorers:
Ontario Lett (198-F-79, agency: BrezoPro, college: Pittsburgh) '25 pts' from Zain
Chad Hendrick (197-G/F-79, college: Houston) '25 pts' from Al Jeish Army Damascus
Nashid Beard (208-F-83, college: Lamar) '18 pts' from Al Jeish Army Damascus
Zaid Al Khas (205-C-76, college: Gannon) '17 pts' from Zain
Moussa Al Awadi (190-G/F-85) '16 pts' from Zain

# Day 3 - 12th WABA Champions Cup (Jordan Time, +2 GMT):
- Sunday 15/3:
15:00 Saba Mehr - Al Karkh
17:00 Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut - Al Jeish Army Damascus
19:00 Al Ahli Sanaa - Mahram

Day 1 - 12th WABA Champions Cup
By: Mohammed Malas - Friday 13/2:

# Group A:

Mahram (IRI) 94 - Al Moutahed Tripoli (LEB) 87 (Qs: 21-21, 40-42, 70-61 & 94-87)
- Best scorers:
Oscar Yebra (200-F-74, agency: Court Side) '26 pts' from Mahram
Samad Bahrami (200-G/F-83, agency: ACMT) '26 pts' from Mahram
Darren Kelly (190-G-78, college: Texas) '24 pts' from Al Moutahed Tripoli
Tony Williams (202-F-78, agency: ACMT, college: Louisville) '23 pts' from Al Moutahed Tripoli
Priest Lauderdale (221-C-73, college: Central State) '18 pts' from Mahram

Orthodox (JOR) 88 - Al Ahli Sanaa (YEM) 64 (Qs: 24-16, 47-32, 68-52 & 88-64)
- Best scorers:
Ayman Idais (205-C-78, agency: Court Side) '24 pts' from Orthodox
Masinne Ndukhu '23 pts' from Al Ahli Sanaa
Sameer Al Asbahi '15 pts' from Al Ahli Sanaa
James Williams (206-C-78, college: Long Beach St.) '13 pts' from Orthodox

# Group B:

Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut (LEB) 97 - Saba Mehr (IRI) 88 (Qs: 30-15, 51-35, 67-50 & 97-88)
- Best scorers:
Fadi El Khatib (197-F-79, agency: Pro Management Agency) '29 pts' from Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut
Ahmad Ismail (201-F-76) '28 pts' from Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut
Karam Ahmadian (197-F-77) '22 pts' from Saba Mehr
Jeff Ngutar Varem (198-G/F-83, college: Washington St.) '19 pts' from Saba Mehr
Roderick Riley (210-C-81, agency: Elfus-Siegel Management (ESM), college: Prairie View A&M) '17 pts' from Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut

Zain (JOR) 104 - Al Karkh (IRQ) 80 (Qs: 28-18, 53-35, 87-55 & 104-80)
- Best scorers:
Adam Zahn (203-F/C-84, college: Oregon) '38 pts' from Al Karkh
Ontario Lett (198-F-79, agency: BrezoPro, college: Pittsburgh) '14 pts' from Zain
Mike Christensen (203-G/F-85, agency: Pro Management Agency, college: New Hampshire) ' 14 pts' from Zain
Abdulla Kutaiba (197-F/G-80) '13 pts' from Al Karkh

# Day 2 (Saturday 14/3) - 12th WABA Champions Cup (Jordan time, +2 GMT):
# Day 2: Saturday 14/3
13:00 Al Karkh x SportingSporting Al Riyadi Beirut Beirut
15:00 Al Moutahed Tripoli x Al Ahli Sanaa Sanaa
17:00 Orthodox x Al Jalaa Aleppo
19:00 Al Jeish Army Damascus x Zain

* West Asian Federation (WABA) decided to refuse the participation of both Marcelo Correa (208-C-77, college: San Diego St.) and Eder Araujo (213-F-81, agency: Pro Management Agency, college: Walsh (OH)) of Al Jalaa Aleppo of Syria due to the lack of their syrian origin evidences.