Sagesse SC (basketball)
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Sagesse Sports Club ( French: '' Club Sportif de la Sagesse''), known as Hekmeh in Arabic, is a Lebanese sports club founded in 1943 and is based in
Beirut Beirut ( ; ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, just under half of Lebanon's population, which makes it the List of largest cities in the Levant region by populatio ...
. The basketball team was established in 1992, as part of the Club Sagesse which was known mainly for its
football (soccer) Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...
team. Sagesse BC quickly rose to fame nationally and internationally due to its unprecedented success across all competitions.


History

''Al-Hikma'' in classical
Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
, ''El-Hekmeh'' in Lebanese dialect stands for "wisdom", thus also the French alternative name of the club, Sagesse (meaning wisdom in French). The historical Hekmeh club was founded in Beirut in 1943 under the patronage of the late father Boulos Kik, supported by late Mgr. Jean Maroun, with affiliation to the Collège de la Sagesse of the
Maronite Catholic Church The Maronite Church (; ) is an Eastern Catholic '' sui iuris'' particular church in full communion with the pope and the worldwide Catholic Church, with self-governance under the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. The head of the Maronit ...
, a leading educational institution in Lebanon and the East since 1875, despite the affiliation with the Sagesse College, the club has its own independent administration. The basketball program was founded in 1992, when the club was headed and financed by media tycoon also widely dubbed as the Godfather of Lebanese basketball, president Antoine Choueiri, he was elected president following the passing of late president Henri El Asmar. Choueiri wanted a team that will achieve unprecedented success and popularity in a bid to change Lebanese sports history forever and unite all Lebanese behind a successful team that will represent Lebanon and Lebanese basketball in every possible competition on a national and international level. After the Choueiri takeover in 1992 Hekmeh/Sagesse included on its roster some of the most impactful players including Lebanese national basketball team legends who formed one of the most successful and historic partnerships in Asia at the time, Elie Mechantaf and
Fadi El Khatib Fadi El Khatib (; born 1 January 1979), nicknamed the "Lebanese Tiger", and "Abu Jihad" is a Lebanese basketball player for Sagesse SC of the Lebanese Basketball League. El Khatib played for several teams in the Lebanese Basketball League, and a ...
, African stars Assane N'diaye and Mohammed Acha, and other notable foreigners that at the time were among the elite of foreign basketball players in the East, being top ex-NBA players, FIBA Continental and World Cup participants, a high level of players that was never seen before in the Lebanese league and the neighbouring countries, and under the management of the most decorated national basketball coach Ghassan Sarkis, a dominant dream team was born taking Lebanese basketball, sports in Lebanon and the region, and Lebanon to new heights, achieving the goals that were set by Choueiri, such as the ones mentioned in the previous passage. Sagesse became one of the most successful basketball clubs in Lebanon, the MENA region and Asia with 8
Lebanese Basketball League The Lebanese Basketball League is recognized as the top-tier professional men's basketball list of basketball leagues, league in Lebanon. It is organized annually as a national championship with playoffs and a national cup by the Lebanese Basketb ...
Championships, 7 Lebanese Basketball Cups, 2
Arab Club Basketball Championship The Arab Club Championship is an annual basketball tournament for Arab teams. The competition is organised by the Arab Basketball Confederation (ABC). Each season is typically held in October and is held in one venue. The tournament typically featu ...
s, and 3
FIBA Asia Champions Cup The Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia), formerly the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, is an annual continental club men's basketball competition organised by FIBA Asia. It is the highest level club competition for basketball in Asia. Introduce ...
titles. Hekmeh made history by being the first Lebanese club to win the
Arab Club Basketball Championship The Arab Club Championship is an annual basketball tournament for Arab teams. The competition is organised by the Arab Basketball Confederation (ABC). Each season is typically held in October and is held in one venue. The tournament typically featu ...
and the first Lebanese and first Arab club to win the
FIBA Asia Champions Cup The Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia), formerly the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, is an annual continental club men's basketball competition organised by FIBA Asia. It is the highest level club competition for basketball in Asia. Introduce ...
. In addition Sagesse were the first Asian club to win the Asian Basketball Championship three times. Sagesse are the only Arab and only Asian club to ever participate in the basketball club world championship, the
McDonald's Championship The McDonald's Championship (sometimes called the McDonald's Open) was an international men's basketball competition that featured a representative of the National Basketball Association (representing North America) against champion club teams ...
organized by
FIBA The International Basketball Federation (FIBA ; French language, French: ) is an association of national organizations which governs the sport of basketball worldwide. FIBA defines the rules of basketball, specifies the Basketball equipment ...
and the
NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...
, it was at the 1999 edition when Sagesse went as the Asian champions. The 1999 McDonald's Championship was the first and only time
FIBA Asia FIBA Asia is a zone within the FIBA, International Basketball Federation (FIBA) which contains Asian FIBA member associations. Sub-zones 44 member associations in 6 sub-zones: # Central Asia Basketball Association (CABA) – 5 member associati ...
was represented in the tournament. This exceptional participation and the way Sagesse represented Asia at the Mcdonald's Championship in Milano was praised by then Commissioner of the NBA
David Stern David Joel Stern (September 22, 1942 – January 1, 2020) was an American lawyer and business executive who was the commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1984 to 2014. Stern oversaw NBA basketball's growth into one of t ...
and by former Secretary General of the FIBA
Borislav Stanković ),Boris (Борис) , image = Borislav Bora Stanković.jpg , imagesize = , caption = , order = 2nd , office = Secretary General of FIBA , term_start = 1 January 1976 , ter ...
among other officials. In 2012, Sagesse won a friendly game against Turkish & EuroCup winners Galatasaray S.K. during a training camp that the club was holding in Turkey, where Sagesse played a series of games against Turkish first division teams, this was the most significant game and win for a Lebanese team or any team in the region against a European team in recent times. Hekmeh are often present in international tournaments and camps, playing against a selection of the best clubs and national teams from different countries. In the post Choueiri era, from 2004 onwards, which was the last year the team won the Lebanese Championship, the club struggled to find consistency at the administrative level despite the involvement of many businessmen and political figures, these involvements were seen as well as a possible reason for the club's struggles rather than being helpful gestures; and despite having the finances to build a good team the club was still struggling with debt; compared to the Choueiri era the club has achieved mediocre success with inconsistent overall form through the seasons in spite of reaching many finals in different competitions. In the 2019 election of the club's general assembly "Choueiry Group" top official Mr. Elie Yahchouchi was elected club president; he was Antoine Choueiri's vice president during the late tycoon's tenure at the club. Also
Deputy Prime Minister A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some countries, a Minister (government), government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to th ...
of
Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...
H.E. Ghassan Hasbani was elected head of the board of trustees. Many reforms, overhauls and major investments have been made since in addition to constructive future plans that were announced in the club's huge team presentation ceremony ahead of the 2019/20 season. Since October 2023, a new administration has been elected led by the club's honorary president M.P. Jihad Pakradouni with Lawyer and Beirut City council member Ragheb Haddad as club president. In September 2024, Sagesse Sports Club unveiled a new logo to mark a new era in the club’s history. The announcement was made through an official video shared on the team'
Facebook
an
Instagram
accounts. The redesigned logo symbolizes the club's modernization efforts while maintaining its historic identity. As of 2025, despite having more consistency on the administrative and financial levels, the club, although still present in many finals across competitions, has failed to win a major official title in the last few years.


Rivalries


''Beirut Derby''

There is often a fierce rivalry between the two strongest teams in a national league, and this is particularly the case in the Lebanese basketball league, where the classical game between Club Sagesse and Riyadi is known as ''Beirut Derby''. From the start of the national league the clubs were seen as successful representatives of two different sides in Lebanon and the two most popular teams in the country.


Honours

Source: ;
Lebanese Basketball league The Lebanese Basketball League is recognized as the top-tier professional men's basketball list of basketball leagues, league in Lebanon. It is organized annually as a national championship with playoffs and a national cup by the Lebanese Basketb ...
*Champions (8): 1993–94, 1997–98, 1998–1999, 1999–2000, 2000-2001, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04 ;Lebanese Basketball Cup *Champions (7): 1993, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 ;
FIBA Asia Champions Cup The Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia), formerly the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, is an annual continental club men's basketball competition organised by FIBA Asia. It is the highest level club competition for basketball in Asia. Introduce ...
*Champions (3): 1999, 2000, 2004. (Record) ;
WABA Champions Cup The WABA Champions Cup, between 2011 and 2012 known as the West Asian Basketball League (WABL), was the West Asian club championship for basketball organized by West Asia Basketball Association, and took place every year, It also served as a q ...
*Champions (3): 2002, 2004, 2005 *Finalists : 2006 (Shared second place with Saba Battery with no champion crowned that year) ;
Arab Club Basketball Championship The Arab Club Championship is an annual basketball tournament for Arab teams. The competition is organised by the Arab Basketball Confederation (ABC). Each season is typically held in October and is held in one venue. The tournament typically featu ...
*Champions (2) : 1998, 1999 ;International tournaments *1999
McDonald's Championship The McDonald's Championship (sometimes called the McDonald's Open) was an international men's basketball competition that featured a representative of the National Basketball Association (representing North America) against champion club teams ...
(Participant) *2001 Damascus International Championship (champions) *2002 Dubai International Tournament (champions) *2010: Damascus International Tournament (champions) *2012: Dubai International Tournament (champions) *2014: Qadisiya International Tournament (champions) *2015: Abu Dhabi International Tournament (champions) *2016: Dubai International Tournament (champions) *2022 : Doha International Basketball Championship (champions) ;Special Awards *1999: Best professional basketball team in Asia. (Specially awarded by
FIBA Asia FIBA Asia is a zone within the FIBA, International Basketball Federation (FIBA) which contains Asian FIBA member associations. Sub-zones 44 member associations in 6 sub-zones: # Central Asia Basketball Association (CABA) – 5 member associati ...
known as the
Asian Basketball Confederation FIBA Asia is a zone within the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) which contains Asian FIBA member associations. Sub-zones 44 member associations in 6 sub-zones: # Central Asia Basketball Association (CABA) – 5 member associations # ...
back then for the first time in 1999 with Sagesse Club as the inaugural winner.)


Medals and decorations

National Order of the Cedar The National Order of the Cedar () is the highest Order (honour), state order of Lebanon, established on 31 December 1936. It is offered in five grades. History The Order was created on the 31 December 1936, but is regulated by the Lebanese C ...
Knight in 1999 Officer in 2000 Awarded to the club for its unprecedented success in the Lebanese, Arab and Asian basketball championships that highly contributed into the development and rise of the Lebanese basketball and sports in Lebanon on many levels.


Roster


Notable players

A list of notable foreign players. * Pierre Jackson * Terrell Stoglin *
Steve Burtt Jr. Steven Dwayne Burtt Jr. (; born March 7, 1984) is an American-born naturalized Ukrainian professional basketball player. Born in the United States, he received Ukrainian citizenship in 2011 and played for the Ukraine national basketball team, Uk ...
* Sherell Ford * Tre Kelley * Darryl Watkins * Marc Salyers * Scotty Thurman *
Samaki Walker Samaki Ijuma Walker (born February 25, 1976) is an American retired professional basketball power forward and center (basketball), center. Walker played college basketball for the Louisville Cardinals men's basketball, Louisville Cardinals and wa ...
* DerMarr Johnson * Amal McCaskill * Jumaine Jones *
Quincy Douby Quincy Douby (born May 16, 1984) is an American-born, naturalized Montenegrin former professional basketball player. At , , Douby played shooting guard for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. The Sacramento Kings made him the 19th selection of the 2006 ...
* Alvin Sims * Rashad Bell * Cleanthony Early * Jonathan Gibson * Zach Lofton * Herve Toure *
Ratko Varda Ratko Varda ( sr-cyr, Ратко Варда; born 6 May 1979) is a Serbian-Bosnian former basketball player who played professionally for 22 years. Standing at , he played the center position. He first represented FR Yugoslavia/Serbia and Monten ...
* Samir Gouda * Oleksiy Pecherov


Notable coaches

* Ghassan Sarkis * Ilias Zouros * Veselin Matic * Dragan Raca *
Tab Baldwin Thomas Anthony "Tab" Baldwin (born 16 May 1958) is an American-New Zealand basketball coach who currently serves as the head of the Gilas Pilipinas Youth national basketball programme and head coach for the Ateneo Blue Eagles of the University ...


See also

* Sagesse SC * Sagesse SC (football)


References

{{Lebanese Basketball League Basketball teams in Lebanon Sport in Beirut Organisations based in Beirut 1992 establishments in Lebanon Sagesse SC Basketball teams established in 1992