The high-energy finals and Closing Ceremony of this year’s LAU Jr. NBA competition took place on May 11, 2025 at the Michel Sleiman Sports Village in Byblos, drawing crowds of proud parents, excited friends, and dedicated fans.

Spanning three months of intense competition, the sixth edition of the tournament brought together 30 boys’ teams and 10 girls’ teams from schools nationwide, reflecting LAU’s growing influence in youth sports development.

True to tradition, the LAU Jr. NBA Finals delivered an electric atmosphere with skills challenges that acknowledged the standouts from the participating teams and end-of-season celebrations.

On the boys’ court, Riyadi Club, representing the Chicago Bulls, claimed the championship title after a gripping final against National Sports Academy, who played as the Los Angeles Lakers. Champs Team, donning the Portland Trail Blazers’ colors, took third place with a decisive win over Mercury Club, representing the Charlotte Hornets.

In the girls’ division, International College (Dallas Mavericks) emerged victorious in an exciting showdown against Antonine Sisters School (Los Angeles Lakers). Rawdat Al Fayhaa, wearing Minnesota Timberwolves jerseys, clinched third place with a solid performance against Sabis Choueifat (Golden State Warriors).

“This tournament has become a true trademark of LAU,” said Lead Director of LAU’s Athletics Department Joe Moujaes. “Our partnership with the NBA provides young athletes with a platform for fair competition while encouraging a culture of sportsmanship, discipline, and sustained player development.”

This year also marked the second edition to feature girls’ teams, highlighting a growing interest that signals broader youth engagement. “The atmosphere this year was incredible—larger crowds, more excitement,” said Lara El Hachem, Jr. NBA Coordinator and Women’s Teams Manager at the LAU Athletics Department. “So many schools signed up that we had to hold an early play-in round to finalize the team roster. It’s clear the competition is gaining momentum year after year.”

Looking ahead, the program plans to finetune its eligibility criteria to further enhance performance and inclusivity. For the boys, eligibility will shift to those born in 2011 to focus on higher competitive standards. For the girls, earlier notification to schools will allow better preparation and talent showcasing.

“We’re looking to launch additional leagues, especially for players under 12, to help develop their talent early and build a lasting connection with LAU,” said El Hachem. “At the same time, we aim to empower our student volunteers by involving them in leadership roles, giving them valuable hands-on experience and deepening our commitment to community engagement.”

The top performers who were recognized for their performance were as follows:

Boys’ Division

Top Five Players: Abed Abou Nasr, Majd Habshi, Gabriel Bou Serhan, Fabio Kaspar, Adam Zeydan
Most Valuable Player (MVP): Anwar Abi Farraj
Skills Challenge Winner: Pierre Nasr
3-Point Contest Winner: Fabio Kaspar
Dunk Contest Winner: Adam Ghali

Girls’ Division

Top Five Players: Chloe Awad, Talia Ayoubi, Ghada Balhawan, Melanie Maroun, Aya Kurdi
Most Valuable Player (MVP): Loulwa Saoud
Skills Challenge Winner: Loulwa Saoud
3-Point Contest Winner: Aya Kurdi