Astana welcomes one of West Asia’s basketball giants — Al Riyadi

Astana continues its run in the FIBA WASL West Asia League and will host the current champions of the region — Lebanon’s Al Riyadi. The matchup is expected to be one of the highlights of December, with both sides arriving in good form and carrying solid momentum into the game.
 

Astana’s recent games

The team has been steady in the Kazakhstan National League:

— Two home wins over Caspiy (84:68, 87:74).

— The club remains unbeaten domestically and is clearly progressing from game to game.
 

Al Riyadi’s recent form

The Beirut side comes in with confidence after a string of strong performances:

— A WASL win against Al Wahda (89:80).

— A perfect finish to last year’s WASL season — champions with a 13–0 record.

— Consistent double-digit victories in the Lebanese championship.
 

Head-to-head

Astana and Al Riyadi have met twice before, both times in the WASL Final 8:

— Al Riyadi took both games (101:69, 93:58), leaning on depth and accurate shooting.

For Astana, this is a chance to respond and improve its position in the standings.

Despite past results, the matchup remains wide open — the teams play very different styles, which always adds intrigue.
 

Key players

Astana:

• Robert Pan — 18 pts, 6 rebounds
• Vladimir Ivanov — 6.5 rebounds
• E.J. Day — 5.5 assists

Al Riyadi:

• Perrin Buford — 24.5 pts, 10 rebounds
• Maurice Kemp — 15.5 pts, 8 rebounds
• Hayk Gyokchyan — 14 pts, 6.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists

​What to expect

The game should be fast and tense. Astana will look to use the home crowd and set the pace, while Al Riyadi is known for its tough defence and strong individual play.

For the capital side, it’s an important test and a chance to show character against one of the strongest teams in West Asia.

 

The game will take place on 10 December at Saryarka Velodrome, Astana, 20:45

Live broadcast is available on Sport Plus Qazaqstan.