Hekmeh tied the 2026 Lebanese Basketball League finals at 2-2 after defeating rival Riyadi 90-78 in Game 4 at Antoine Choueiri Stadium in Ghazir, resetting the seven-game series ahead of the fifth matchup scheduled for July 30, 2026.
Game 4 Breakdown and Quarter-by-Quarter Scoring
Playing before a large crowd at Antoine Choueiri Stadium in Ghazir, Hekmeh secured a decisive 90-78 victory over defending champion Riyadi Beirut in Game 4 of the 2026 men’s first-division final series. The win levels the series at two wins apiece in a championship format decided by the first team to claim four victories from a possible seven.
Hekmeh set the tone early in the first quarter before Riyadi clawed back in the middle frames.
| Quarter | Hekmeh Score | Riyadi Score |
|---|---|---|
| First Quarter | 27 | 18 |
| Second Quarter | 16 | 18 |
| Third Quarter | 19 | 24 |
| Fourth Quarter | 28 | 18 |
An international referee crew managed the floor action, featuring Lebanon’s Rabah Njeim, Kazakhstan’s Yevgeniy Mikheyev, and China’s Yan Sun.
Individual Standouts and Disciplinary Penalties
Statistically, Hekmeh was paced by Youssef Khayat, who led all scorers with 19 points and 11 rebounds. He received strong support from American Deshaundre Washington, who contributed 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists, alongside New Zealand’s Terrel Harrison, who added 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Riyadi countered with balanced production from Ali Mansour, Karim Zeinoun, and Serbian Dusan Miletic. Each player finished with 14 points, while Mansour added 9 assists and 7 rebounds, Zeinoun contributed 3 rebounds, and Miletic pulled down 11 rebounds.
Prior to the latest on-court results, the Lebanese Basketball Federation issued disciplinary decisions stemming from incidents that accompanied the second and third games of the final series between Riyadi Beirut and Hekmeh Beirut. The governing body imposed a fine of 25,000 US dollars on Riyadi, while Hekmeh was fined 10,000 US dollars. Additionally, five Riyadi fans had their identities determined and were suspended for a full season due to insults, offensive remarks, and acts of rioting.
Coaches and players also faced financial penalties in lieu of suspensions. Riyadi coach Ahmad Farran was fined 4,000 dollars instead of being suspended due to protesting against the referee. Hekmeh coach Joe Ghattas received a 1,000 dollar fine instead of a suspension resulting from a separate incident involving the referee. Furthermore, Hekmeh player Sekou Doumbouya was fined 4,000 dollars instead of a suspension due to making inappropriate gestures toward the opposing team’s supporters.
The Federation emphasized that it exceptionally replaced the suspension penalties with financial fines to preserve the progress and fairness of the championship. However, the governing body explicitly stressed that any new violation starting from that day would be met with harsher penalties, including doubled fines and enforced suspensions where necessary.
Series Trajectory and Upcoming Schedule
The unfolding finals have featured shifts in momentum from the very beginning. Riyadi originally advanced to a 1-0 lead by winning the opening game 92-89. Hekmeh subsequently leveled the score at 1-1 by taking the second game 101-96, before Riyadi recaptured the advantage at 2-1 with an 87-85 victory in the third game. Hekmeh’s latest 90-78 triumph in Game 4 brings the “Green” team back to parity.
With the score now deadlocked at 2-2, both Hekmeh (playing as the runner-up) and Riyadi (playing as the defending champion) prepare to take the next step toward capturing the 2026 title. The crucial fifth match of the series is scheduled to take place at 21:30 on the evening of Thursday, July 30, 2026, hosted at the Saeb Salam Hall in Manara.
