Fuheis host West Asian women’s basketball event

AMMAN  — Fuheis Club host the 4th West Asian Women’s Basketball Champions Cup which tips off Monday in Amman.

The championship which runs up to March 25 hosts teams from three countries: Lebanon’s Riyadi and Homenetmen, Palestine’s Sariet Ramallah and Jordan’s Orthodoxi and Fuheis.

Fuheis President Ayman Samawi noted the Jordan Basketball Federations and Orthodox Club had cooperated with his club to make the tournament a success. “Everyone’s efforts are needed to help advance women’s basketball. We hope fans will come and enjoy some regional matches and boost the game.”

In 2015, Lebanon’s Riyadi took the title after beating Syria’s Wihda who came in second while Orthodoxi came in third. Fuheis were fourth and Sariet Ramallah finished fifth.

Wihda’s Elissa Magarian was chosen the tournament’s best player and top scorer averaging 24 points per game.

Lebanon’s Antranik Club had won the title before.

In 2014, Orthodoxi finished 4th at the 16th Arab Clubs Basketball Championship for Women in Egypt when Lebanon’s Riyadi retained the title.

In the men’s championship, Orthodoxi hosted the 16th West Asian Clubs Championship earlier this year which qualifies teams to the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) Champions Cup.

Iran’s Petroshemi, Lebanon’s Riyadi and Iraq’s Shurta advanced from the zonal qualifiers as Orthodoxi appeared below form and lost all four matches. The West Asian Clubs Championship has been dominated by Lebanese and Iranian teams since it started in 1998. Orthodoxi were the only Jordanian team to win the title in 1999.

Jordanian runners-up to the event were Jazira (currently Riyadi’s team) in 1998, Orthodoxi in 2001 and 2002, Arena in 2003 and Zain in 2009.