Al Riyadi, the Lebanese basketball powerhouse, faces a daunting task in defending their Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) crown as they head to Dubai for the June 7-13 tournament without star player Amir Saoud. Saoud, known as 'The Prince', has been sidelined due to a rib fracture, compelling the remaining eleven players to elevate their contributions to fill the void left by his absence.

The unfortunate injury occurred just days before the team's departure, during Al Riyadi's 110-84 victory over Homenetmen in the 2025 Lebanese Basketball Championship on June 3. Head coach Ahmad Farran described Saoud's absence as a "big, big blow," emphasizing his role as a "big creator on this team and a big scorer." Saoud is expected to be out for three weeks. This injury marks another setback for Saoud, who had previously dealt with a calf issue earlier in the season, delaying his start in the 2025 FIBA WASL-West Asia League.

Despite the earlier injury, Saoud had played a crucial role in Al Riyadi's successful three-peat in the FIBA WASL-West Asia League and was instrumental in their WASL Final 8 triumph, averaging 8.6 points, 6.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game as they swept the competition. The severity of the rib fracture led doctors to advise him against traveling to Dubai to prevent further aggravation. "It's a tough injury. It's a broken rib. And it will take three weeks, and the doctors advised him to stay in Lebanon and not travel with the team 'cause it's going to be dangerous for his health," Coach Farran explained.

Compounding Al Riyadi's challenges, Croatian big man Marin Maric will also miss the BCL Asia tournament due to an ankle injury sustained in the game preceding Saoud's injury. "Marin Maric against Beirut, we lost him because of his ankle and he needs like two weeks. And the game after, the game against Homenetmen we lost Amir," Farran lamented. "So we lost two players before a big championship." Maric had been a significant contributor during the Final 8, with averages of 12.0 points and 7.6 rebounds, providing a strong presence in the paint alongside Thon Maker.

Despite these setbacks, Coach Farran expressed relief at quickly securing a replacement in Elmedin Kikanovic. The veteran Bosnian center, fresh from a stint with Al Arabi SC in Qatar, makes a welcome return to Al Riyadi, where he played a key role in their WASL and BCL Asia successes in the previous two seasons. "Thank God we managed to secure the signing of Kika. He was very excited to come back," Farran stated. "And we did it in 24 hours. He played one game with us, and his first appearance was like he never left."

Farran further praised Kikanovic's impact, saying, "We are happy and glad. This is one of the guys who contributed big time for our successful season last season. We are hopeful and ready to achieve more." The swift integration of Kikanovic brings a much-needed boost to the team's morale and capabilities.

Even with the absence of key players, Al Riyadi remains optimistic about their chances in the BCL Asia. Coach Farran acknowledged the heightened difficulty, stating, "It's gonna be challenging, it's gonna be tough. But this team is made for this. We are hopeful and confident that we can go far in this tournament." The team is fully aware of the strong competition awaiting them in Dubai but is prepared to double their efforts to compensate for the absences and strive for a consecutive title.