Courtside Global

Image : UAE Basketball Association  The curtain has officially closed on the 35th Dubai Basketball Championship 2026, and once again the tournament delivered a week full of intensity, surprises, and high-level international competition. From the group stage all the way to the final day, Dubai reaffirmed its place as one of the region’s most important basketball showcases. The last day featured two key matchups that drew plenty of attention: the third-place game between Beirut First Club and Al-Ittihad, and the championship final between the UAE National Team and Club Africain. Both games carried pressure, storylines, and something to prove. Club Africain of Tunisia completed an impressive tournament by defeating the UAE National Team 93–77 in the final. The game was largely decided early, as Club Africain came out aggressive and poured in 37 points in the first quarter, setting the tone for the rest of the night. Their physical play, ball movement, and shot-making were consistent f...

This was not just another loss. This was a warning sign for Lebanese basketball. In Antranik’s heavy defeat against Riyadi, the most alarming statistic had nothing to do with the final score. It was the production, or rather the absence of production, from Antranik’s Lebanese players. Across 40 total minutes , Lebanese players combined for only 7 points . Antonio Habib finished with 5 points . Majd Nassar added 2 points . All seven points came in the fourth quarter , when Riyadi had already eased off defensively. Let that sink in. In a professional Lebanese league game, local players were virtually non-existent offensively for three full quarters. This is not an individual failure. This is a system failure . The current 3-imports-per-team rule is suffocating Lebanese talent. When three foreigners dominate usage, minutes, and ball-handling, local players are pushed into the corners, reduced to spectators, and stripped of any rhythm or confidence. They are asked to defend, rebound, an...

Image : FIBA Riyadi once again showed why they are yhe most feared teams in the Lebanese league, cruising past Antranik with a convincing 107–86 victory in Round 17 of the championship. Riyadi won their 17 straight game this season with 0 losses. From the opening tip, Riyadi imposed their tempo. The ball movement was crisp, the defensive intensity was high, and the offensive execution left Antranik constantly chasing. By halftime, the gap was already clear, and the second half only confirmed Riyadi’s control of the game. The story of the night, however, belonged to Chris Brown. Brown delivered a sensational performance, pouring in 41 points in what stands as the best scoring game of his professional career so far. He attacked from everywhere on the floor, finishing strong at the rim, knocking down jumpers, and punishing mismatches. Even in a losing effort, his display was one of the brightest individual performances of the season. Despite this explosion, Brown fell just short of maki...