Al-Riyadi claimed a narrow 82:78 victory over Al-Ula in the WASL tournament on Friday, keeping their grip on the top spot in Kazakhstan's league. The hosts had already established themselves as the team to beat this season, and this result extended that advantage.
By then, Al-Riyadi had been on a good run, winning three of their last four before the break. They had pushed past Indian Railways 104:81 and edged Kuwait 83:82, building momentum that carried into this fixture. To be fair, Al-Ula had shown similar resilience, taking down Shahrdari Gorgan 99:84 in their most recent outing.
And here's the thing about close games like this — they are rarely decided by any single moment. The scoreline suggests a contest where both sides traded blows without either pulling clear. Al-Riyadi held their nerve when it mattered, which is often the difference between winning and losing at this level.
We had called for the hosts to prevail, and that prediction came through. The 69 per cent confidence we placed on Al-Riyadi was not misplaced, though basketball at this standard rarely guarantees anything. The visitors fought hard but could not find the extra margin needed.
The result leaves Al-Riyadi at the summit with six wins from eight matches, their two defeats a testament to the league's competitiveness. They have not dropped points in their last three outings, and the gap to anyone chasing them remains meaningful. Al-Ula, meanwhile, are still searching for consistency after a mixed campaign.
