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Quote:After losing key players Fadi El Khatib and Ismail Ahmad, Al Riyadi secured a proper replacement by signing Matt Freije. The 27-year-old American power forward of Lebanese descent is joining the current FLB champions in an attempt to respond to championship rivals Champville and Mouttahed.



Freije had a short career in the NBA by playing for the New Orleans Hornets and the Atlanta Hawks, making his impact overseas with the jerseys of Brujos Guayama, Olympiacos, Artland Dragons, Leones Ponce, Fujian and Criollos Caguas where he averaged 20.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1 block per game alst season.

Quote:Lebanese superstar Fadi El Khatib has moved from the FLB champion Al Riyadi to Champville. The forward had already reached an agreement with Champville and was only waiting for his now former club to release him. With the "Tiger" moving to other club in Lebanon, the championship will get much more spiced up for next season, as the 30-year-old El Khatib will seek to recover his shape and scorer status and leave behind the pale exhibitions at the Asia Championship this year.



El Khatib spent almost all his career in Lebanon and started his career in Sagesse where he was eight years, playing also for the Syrian side Al Ittihad and Blue Stars. He also had a stint in Ukraine with Cherkaski Mavpy.



Champville managed to qualify for the playoffs last season, but had an early elimination in the quarter-finals round by losing Tebnine.