BEIRUT, Lebanon (3rd FIBA Asia Stankovic Cup): Inspired by the presence of their president, Mr. Michel Suleiman, Lebanon left nothing to chance, and doubt, from the word go and scored a 97-59 win over Japan in the Championship game on Sunday.
Lebanon thus won their first ever title in FIBA Asia events for Men’s National Teams. A Lebanese club, however, had won the gold medal in a FIBA Asia event three times earlier when Al-Hikmeh Sagesse had won the FIBA Asia Champions Cup for club teams in 1999, 2000 and 2004.
Fadi El Khatib, who obviously got the loudest cheers from the capacity crowd, went impeccable in field attempts converting both his attempts in three-pointers and as many from the close range, scoring 10 points at the end of which Lebanon led by a whopping 33-12 margin.
Rony Fahed (red jersey in picture above) fired two of his seven three-pointers for the game in the first quarter to add perimeter power to El Khatib’s inside play.
The cheers, the lead and the hosts grip on the proceedings only grew as the game progressed.
Fahed went on to lead the scoring for the game with 23 points.
El Khatib had 21 points, in an incredible 62% record in field attempts. The Champville guard, playing his first international tournament after a return from injury, also collected six rebounds, and effected a game-high five assists.
Jackson Vroman was his usual sturdy self, and in a 75% shooting record, returned a 16-point haul.
“It was a great win,” Fahed said.
“We haven’t won any FIBA Asia event before, as the National Team. And we didn’t want to let go of the opportunity in front of our home crowd,” El Khatib said.
Takumi Ishikazi had a 14-point team-high for Japan.
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