AMMAN (WABA Champions Cup 2017) - Fourteen. That's the number of West Asia Basketball Association (WABA) Champions Cup titles that have been shared by Iran and Lebanon since the tournament's inception in 1998. Only two other countries have won the title: Syria (2000 and 2001) and Jordan (1999).

In essence, Iran and Lebanon have dominated the competition in West Asia for the better part of the past two decades, and this is enough to say that theirs has become quite the rivalry.

In the history of the WABA Champions Cup, the battle for the crown has been a tug-of-war between these two countries, especially in the past 15 years, where no other nation has ascended to the summit. Iran's Mahram Tehran club have been the most successful with 4 Champions Cup titles, while Lebanon's Al Riyadi and Sagesse each have 3.

Not surprisingly, on almost every occasion the two countries have confronted each other in club competition, the atmosphere has been electric and the competition heated. That's something we saw last year at the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2016.

In that tournament, top Lebanese side Al Riyadi tripped Iran's Petrochimi, 74-63, in the first round. It was Dewarick Spencer(currently with Muttahed) and living legend Fadi El Khatib(currently with Homentmen) who did much of the damage in that one, combining for 42 points. Young gun Wael Arakji, who is expected to inherit Lebanon's mantle of leadership in the near future, also impressed, scoring 15 points and grabbing 7 boards, while big man Ali Haidar protected the basket well with 5 huge blocks on top of 10 points. Petrochimi was led by import James White and rising star Behnam Yakhchali with 22 and 13 points respectively. It was a tense and physical game that saw several players trade barbs and get into near altercations, most notably Arakji and Yakhchali, whose shared enmity stems from as far back as their U18 days in 2012.

That beautifully sets up an inevitable grudge match between the two nations again in the WABA Champions Cup 2017, which starts 12 March.

Representing Iran will be Naft Abadan, Chemidor and defending champions Petrochimi. Some of the players to watch include national team regular and former Petrochimi players Mohammad Hassanzadeh and Sajjad Mashayekhi for Naft Abadan, versatile 2.03m forward Amir Sedighi for Chemidor. Petrochimi was supposed to acquire Hamed Haddadi after Sichuan Blue Whales were eliminated in the CBA, but those plans fell through. As such, national team members Benham Yakhchali, Oshin Sahakian and Rouzbeh Arghavan will carry the cause for the defending Champions.

As for Lebanon, a recent injury will prevent Arakji from seeing action for Al Riyadi, which will, instead, turn to Ali Haidar and Jean Abdelnour for leadership. Legendary club Sagesse will also represent Lebanon, and guys like Lebanese league top scorer Terrell Stoglin and Patrick Bou Abboud will surely be among their main contributors. Needless to say, whichever club team brings home the proverbial bacon will certainly hand their respective country the title of Kings of West Asia Club Basketball.

And at least for the next year, that country can lay claim to being the better side in what has been a rivalry for the ages.

FIBA