Wael Arakji in action for Lebanon's men's national basketball team in Saturday's FIBA Asia Cup semi-final against Jordan. (Credit: FIBA Asia Cup Twitter)
BEIRUT — Lebanon’s men’s national basketball team on Saturday advanced to the final of the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup where they will face defending champions Australia after a dramatic 86-85 semi-final victory over Jordan.
Here’s what we know:
• Down by a point with 22 seconds left to play and in possession of the ball, Lebanon’s captain Wael Arakji sank a two-pointer to give The Cedars a slim lead over Jordan. The Jordanians then missed on their last possession.
• Team captain Wael Arakji led the scoring for Lebanon, netting 25 points.
• Lebanon last reached the finals of the FIBA Asia Cup in 2007, when they lost to Iran. In 2001 and 2005, the Lebanese men’s basketball team fell to China in the championship games of the international tournament.
• The Cedars advanced to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup after knocking out China in the quarterfinals and topping a group with New Zealand, the Philippines and India. The last time Lebanon reached the semi-finals of the FIBA Asia Cup was in 2009, when they lost to China.