FADI EL KHATIB LEADS UNBEATEN LEBANON TO FIBA ASIA CHAMPIONSHIP SLOT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 02 Jun 2015
Led by super star Fadi El Khatib, a revamped Lebanon national team has swept all its games in the West Asia Basketball Association Championships to clinch a spot in the FIBA Asia Championships to be held in Hunan, China from September 23 to October 3.
FIBA reported that with its victory Lebanon ?launched what looks to be an exciting new era for the country's national team.?
The Lebanese thumped Iraq 85-67 on Day 1 in Amman and followed that with a 92-74 triumph over hosts Jordan who eventually finished second to also clinch a slot in the FIBA Asia Championships.
Lebanon then scored a 76-59 triumph over Syria. They moved to within touching distance of a fourth WABA title after a 76-59 triumph on Day 3 over Syria.
FIBA said Lebanon and Jordan, who have won their other two games, clinched their places in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championships. A third qualifying spot at the WABA Championship will go to Palestine. Syria or Iraq.
The FIBA report said ?one of Lebanon's biggest heroes for more than a decade, Fadi El Khatib set the tone for an impressive start to 2015 for the Cedars.
In their opening win over Iraq, the 36-year-old had 31 points - 17 in the first half.
Recently-appointed Lebanon coach, former Iran boss Veselin Matic, lavished praise on El Khatib, saying "He is a leader in every sense of the word."
On Day 2, Lebanon defeated their biggest rivals in this year's WABA Championship title race, Jordan, with El Khatib pouring in a game-high 27 points.
Matic's team stretched a 38-33 lead at half-time to 72-52 by the end of the third quarter. Jordan whose exciting new naturalized player Alex Legion scored 22 points, clawed their way back to 79-68 with five minutes remaining but the side coached by Rajko Toroman who was former coach of the Philippines Gilas Pilipinas squad, ran out of steam.
On Day 3, El Khatib scored 26 points and corralled nine rebounds and naturalized player Jay Youngblood contributed 21 points and eight boards as the Lebanese romped to a 76-59 triumph over Syria.
Jordan, who began their WABA Championship with a 92-76 victory Palestine after getting 24 points from Legion, 18 from Wesam Al-Sous, 17 from Mouse Alawadiand 15 along with 11 rebounds from Mohammad Hussein, bounced back from their defeat to Lebanon with an 86-71 victory over Iraq on Sunday.
Legion paced Jordan with 23 points in their second triumph.
Palestine are the only other team to have claimed a victory at the WABA.
On Saturday, they edged Syria, 79-73.
Sani Sakakini erupted for 39 points and pulled down 17 rebounds in that triumph for the Palestinians.
That performance came as no sutprise because Sakakini had also caused problems for Jordan on Day 1, scoring 29 points and hauling in 11 boards.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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