BEIRUT: What a fitting way to end the regular season. While the Lebanese basketball League grows in competitiveness year on year, the top two teams continue to pull away from the pack. In the game of the regular season before the Final Eight begins, Riyadi and Champville face off to decide the top seed.

Each side still has 14 more games in the Final Eight to win the top seed going into the playoffs, but the rivalry has now become about more than just the league table.

Riyadi and Champville have just one defeat between them in 30 games, the defeat that Champville inflicted on Riyadi earlier in the season, in one of the most enthralling and high quality games to be played on these shores in the WABA League.

By the end of Sunday, there will be another defeat on the board as the two sides meet in Manara to fight out top spot.

Riyadi have home court advantage, but there is still nothing to choose between two of the best sides in Asia.

“It’s gonna be a great game. We have big respect for Riyadi who is the defending champion but we are doing very well lately,” Champville captain Fadi al-Khatib told The Daily Star’s Sports Weekly.

“Riyadi are playing very well at the moment. But we will be working to impose our rhythm into the game which isn’t easy at all playing in front of their fans.”

“I hope the game will be clean technically ... Fans must cheer for their team and not insult the other team players and coaches. We want a game that reflects the weight of the two teams.”

Both teams are fresh from crucial away wins in the quarterfinals of the league.

Riyadi have to win by a margin of six points to move into the top spot.

“We played a great game last Monday against Petrochimi, dealt with the pressure of playing away from home, and most importantly we dominated the paint.”