BEIRUT, Lebanon (23rd FIBA Asia Champions Cup): Al Riyadi Beirut are leaving no loose ends hanging to defend their FIBA Asia Champions Cup title, especially when the event is held right in front of their home crowd at the Saeb Salam Arena in Beirut.

The 23rd FIBA Asia Champions Cup which starts at the Manara courts on Monday will feature Riyadi’s good old center of attraction – literally – Loren Woods as one of the foreign players along with Egyptian Ismail Ahmad.

Woods it may be recalled was the lynchpin on which Riyadi revolved when winning the title – their first – at the 22nd FIBA Asia Champions Cup at Manila (Philippines) in May 2011. The 218-cm center had earlier played a critical role in helping the team win their unprecedented seventh title in the highly competitive Lebanese Division A League.

Subsequently, Woods moved to neighboring Iran to play Zob Ahan in the Iranian Super League as well as the WABA League.

But for the 2012-13 season, Woods is all set to make his mark with the team where it all began for the soft-spoken American in this part of world.

Need more reason to doubt who the favorites for the title will be!

FIBA Asia