Courtside Global

Three-point shooting is no longer a luxury in modern basketball. It is not a bonus. It is not a “nice addition.” It is a fundamental pillar of the game. And what we witnessed in the Sagesse vs Astana game is a painful reminder of how far Lebanese basketball still is from embracing this reality. Let’s start with the raw numbers. Sagesse finished the game with 6 three-pointers made out of 22 attempts. That is 18 points from beyond the arc out of a total of 102. Astana, on the other hand, knocked down 19 three-pointers out of 45 attempts. That is 57 points from three out of their 104 total. Read that again. Astana scored 39 more points from three-point range than Sagesse. You don’t need advanced analytics to understand the story of the game. The difference is right there. Basketball at the highest level today is a spacing game. Teams stretch the floor, punish help defense, and create driving lanes by forcing opponents to respect shooters. When you cannot shoot, everything becomes harder. ...

With only a few games left in the FIBA WASL West Asia regular phase, the picture is becoming clearer, and everything points toward two heavyweight semi-final matchups that could define the tournament. At this stage, there is a very strong chance that the West Asia Semi-Finals will shape up as: Astana vs Sagesse Riyadi vs Gorgan Image : WASL Image : WASL The current standings explain why this scenario is taking form: 1. Astana (5–1) 2. Riyadi (4–2) 3. Gorgan (3–2) 4. Sagesse (2–4) 5. Al Wahda (0–5) Astana currently sit at the top with a 5–1 record and still have two games remaining in Lebanon, against Riyadi and Al Wahda. On paper, Astana should handle Al Wahda, which would push their record to 6–1 and further solidify their position as table leaders. That leaves Riyadi with one clear mission: beat Astana next week — and not just win, but win by at least 14 points. Astana won the first leg (“aller”) by 13 points, meaning Riyadi need a +14 victory to swing the head-to-head tiebreaker and...

Sagesse’s painful overtime loss against Astana (104–102) in the FIBA WASL – West Asia League was not just another defeat. It felt like a boiling point for a fanbase that is slowly losing patience, and social media after the game reflected exactly that: anger, frustration, and serious questions about the team’s direction. From a pure numbers perspective, the game had positive individual performances. Walter Hodge delivered 31 points, while Astana’s E.J. Day exploded for 38. Paris Bass added 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Kevin Murphy chipped in 20. On paper, Sagesse stayed competitive until the final seconds. But basketball is not only about box scores. It is about identity, rotation management, and trust within the roster — and that is where the cracks are becoming impossible to ignore. One of the biggest talking points is the almost complete absence of the Lebanese bench. Jad Khalil and Ali Haidar did not see the floor. Against Tadamon Hrajel earlier, the bench was also barely used. F...

In basketball, not every good decision looks good at first. Sometimes the smartest move is the one that feels risky, uncomfortable, or even misunderstood in the moment. Jihad El Khatib’s decision to leave Sagesse and join Central is starting to look exactly like that kind of move. When Jihad made the switch, many wondered why a young Lebanese wing would leave a historic powerhouse like Sagesse. Big name. Big expectations. Big stage. But behind the scenes, reality can be very different from reputation. Image : MTV At Sagesse, opportunities were limited. Rotations were tight. Minutes were inconsistent. Development was hard to come by. In recent games, we’ve seen situations where young Lebanese players barely touched the floor, even against teams at the bottom of the standings. It’s hard to grow when you’re watching more than you’re playing. Now look at Jihad with Central. Through 14 games, Jihad El Khatib is averaging: • 13.0 points per game • 5.6 rebounds per game • 2.5 assists per game...

 There are moments in a season that force uncomfortable questions. Sagesse’s rotation against Tadamon Hrajel in the first three quarters is one of those moments. Jad Khalil: 6 minutes Ali Haidar: 12 minutes Elie Ghaleb: 4 minutes Sikwik: 11 minutes This is against a Tadamon Hrajel side playing with only one foreign player and relying heavily on young local talent. A team that sits at the bottom of the standings. And yet, Sagesse approached the game with something close to full power. It is difficult to understand. These four names are not fringe players. They are Lebanese internationals, veterans, and proven contributors. Players who have carried big games, big moments, and big responsibilities for years. If this is not a game to give them extended minutes, then which game is? This is not about disrespecting Tadamon Hrajel. Every opponent deserves to be taken seriously. But there is a difference between respecting an opponent and missing an opportunity to manage your roster intelli...

Lebanon will be represented on an international stage once again. Youssef Khayyat and Amir Saoud, two of the brightest stars in Lebanese basketball, are set to participate in the Basketball 3×3 All-Star Game, organized by Match for Hope in collaboration with the FIBA World Cup 2027 Qatar and the Qatar Basketball Federation. The event takes place Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at Place Vendôme – Gate 1 Eiffel, 2nd Floor in Qatar. 🕔 17:30–18:30 Qatar Time 🕓 16:30–17:30 Beirut Time Two Leaders, Two Powerhouses Youssef Khayyat, currently starring with Sagesse, has been one of the most consistent performers in the league this season. Through 13 games, the versatile forward is averaging: 19.3 points 8.5 rebounds 4.1 assists 1 steal 1 block Playing nearly 34 minutes a night, Khayyat has established himself as a true two-way force and a cornerstone for the Greens. On the other side, Amir Saoud, the dynamic guard of Riyadi, continues to deliver efficient offense and elite playm...