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Petrochimi Giants Clinch WABA Gold Medal

With the win, Petrochimi avenged losing to Al Riyadi in last year’s final in Amman and in the semifinals of the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2017 in Chenzhou, China
The Iranian team celebrates its victory over Lebanese side at the event.
The Iranian team celebrates its victory over Lebanese side at the event.

Petrochimi Bandar Imam of Iran ruled the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2018 West Asian Basketball Association Qualifier after beating host and defending champion Al Riyadi, 83-53, in the final in Beirut, Lebanon, on March 17.

Mike Harris exploded for Petrochimi in the final and led the way with game-high 37 points as well as 12 rebounds.

Behemoth Hamed Haddadi also added 8 points and 14 rebounds, FIBA’s website reported.

With the win, Petrochimi avenged losing to Al Riyadi in last year’s final in Amman and in the semifinals of the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2017 in Chenzhou, China.

This victory completed for Petrochimi a dominant three-game sweep of the competition.

They have already beaten Sarreyet Ramallah of Palestine on the first day of the tournament before narrowly edging past Al Jaish from Syria. The result propels Petrochimi to the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2018 first round.

Mahram Tehran and Al Riyadi of Beirut are the record holders for the most titles won atop the list of the all-time winners of the event with four titles for each.

Club Sagesse of Lebanon is at second place by winning three titles. Coming third, Petrochimi Bandar Imam has won two titles in 2016 and 2018.

The 18th edition of the Champions Cup pitted the best club teams from all across West Asia.

The WABA Champions Cup, between 2011 and 2012 known as the West Asian Basketball League, is the West Asian club championship for basketball organized by West Asia Basketball Association, and takes place every year.

It also serves as a qualifying tournament for the FIBA Asia Champions Cup.

Petrochimi is based in Mahshahr City of Khuzestan Province in the south of Iran. The club competes in the Iranian Basketball Super League.

In 2012, the club became the first club in Iran to establish a basketball youth academy. In 2013, Petrochimi won the Iranian Basketball Super League for the first time after defeating Mahram Tehran in the final.

In 2014, Petro went undefeated throughout the season and again faced Mahram Tehran in the final and again won the league.

After signing former Iranian player of NBA, Hamed Haddadi, in 2016, Petrochimi won the league after defeating Naft Abadan in the final.

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