Lebanon won against the Philippines, 85-81, on Aug. 26, 2022. (Credit: Abbas Saad)
Beirut — Lebanon’s national basketball team beat the Philippines on Thursday in the qualifiers for the FIBA World Cup.
Here’s what we know:
• After a head-to-head match, Lebanon won by four points in its home court, with the final score at 85 to 81.
• The match was played in Lebanon, at the Nohad Naufel Stadium in Zouk Mikael near the port city of Jounieh.
• This is the first game played without Youssef Khayat, who flew to Michigan last week to join the Wolverines as part of the NCAA.
• Lebanon came in second last month at the FIBA Asia Cup, losing to Australia by two points.
• Lebanon is set to play against India next week, on Monday, Aug. 29, as part of the qualifying second round, which has three windows in August 2022, November 2022, and February 2023, where each team will play two games per window.
• After Thursday night's game, Philippines point guard Jordan Clarkson tweeted: “great game by lebanon !!! love yalls crowd energy!! proud the way we fought!! we came up short!! stay safe all love, until next time!! see yall in manila !! [sic]”