FIBA Basketball World Cup: Lebanon vs. Latvia, find our live coverage here

A big thank you to you, dear readers, for following this live coverage which, we hope, brought a smile to your faces (and eased your pain a bit).

We hope to see even more of you for the next game against Canada on Sunday. We're counting on you, expats from the diaspora!

And YES we will have another LIVE page, in english, on Sunday! See you there. 

And...As expected, this so called 'Group of Death' won't show any mercy to the Lebanese, who are continuing their learning phase at the highest global level.

The next meeting is scheduled for this Sunday at 12:45 PM for the second match against Canada. It's a match that is shaping up to be even tougher than this opener against Latvia.

Analysis from L'Orient Today sports journalist - Gabriel Blondel:

It's over in Jakarta (finally). 109-70. The score is harsh, but also entirely logical considering how superior the Latvians were in absolutely every aspect of the game: shooting, defense, offensive rebounding. The technical and physical advantage of the Baltic team clearly made the difference against the cautious Lebanese team that never really found its stride.

With the exception of Sergio Darwiche, who finishes as the top scorer of his team with 19 points, just ahead of Omari Spellman's 18 points, including the 4 consecutive long-range shots he nailed in the last quarter to salvage his rather mediocre performance, like the rest of the team. Wael Arakji ends with a respectable 14 points and 4 assists, but he was too little influential in the game to give the Cedars any hopes.

Reaction from the fan zone - Maurice Yacoub, 17:

"It is kind of expected to be this way but it is still disappointing. Spellman is very disappointing. We expected a lot from him. He played before in the NBA but he showed up out of shape. I hope they play better than this game in the coming games”

Analysis and reaction to come from our sports team...we're just taking a moment to let the defeat sink in. 

We don't make to make you depressed...but here is the final score, official, in big letters :( :( :( 

Lots to digest after this game.

FINAL TIME: 109 Latvia - 70 Lebanon. 

Some thoughts from the L'Orient Today sports desk. We're criticizing Spellman because it's even more frustrating to see him like this when he has such a magnificent touch. The Lebanese #4 makes his third consecutive successful 3-point shot: 107-64.

Yikes...Latvia are just too quick. 105-61. 

101-61 - some nice play there by Lebanon.

Ok we got excited too soon... 101-58

FINALLY, a basket for Lebanon! 99-58 

The LBC TV commentator is making fun of Lebanon's Omari Spellman because he's so out of shape. Gotta feel for him in this game. 

And another one... 99-56

Less than 5 minutes to go.. 97-53

95-53... we're speechless...  

Update from the fan zone: Fans are devastated and are looking gloomily at their phones. But, they're still here to support their team, despite the big point difference.

92-51... Latvia continues to dominate.

Now 89-51... 

86-51; another basket from the Latvian Dennis Bertans (22 points), who certainly has a steel-like mentality. 

This picture is exactly how we feel... Come on Cedars! 

For those wondering where Omari Spellman went: he's cycling on the sideline to recover... 3 quarters was apparently already too much for him.

Hopes are fading here in the fan zone... But surely, surely, we can turn this around?

Updated score - Latvia 85 - Lebanon 48 

Last quarter, everyone. It's now or never to achieve one of the greatest comebacks in basketball history.

Right - time to RUN for some more crisps. Or to do a good luck dance to hope this match turns around! 

GOOOOO LEBANON! The team is coming back at 76-41. Minus 25. The Latvians are starting to doubt.

The painful stat: 7% success rate for 3-pointers for Lebanon, compared to 55% for the Latvians...

And hi from us in the fan zone. It's Wael and João here from the L'Orient Today team, soaking up the atmosphere...but also starting to feel a little worried about this score line. 

Well, let's not get carried away though. The Latvians are definitely audacious with their accuracy: 71-36... we've crossed the symbolic +30 mark...

So you guys saw that beautiful photo of the L'Orient Today team watching the game in the office... BUT we want to know, where are you guys watching the game?

Send us your message and pictures to editor@lorientlejour.com

Talking about another Wael now.... WAEEEEEEL is back in the game! 4 consecutive points for the Asian MVP who nails his first lay-up (6 points): 61-34.

It's Wael here at the fan zone... So earlier we mentioned we spotted the LEGEND that is Jean Abdel Nour. We've just had a chat with him to hear his thoughts on how the game's going so far.

“We have been so unlucky, not just with the three points but if we only have scored the lay ups, we would have been in a better place. We’re missing the lay ups maybe because the players are nervous maybe because it’s the first game of the World Cup."

"They (Latvia) also have been really good with three points. I hope in the second half they wouldn’t be as good with three points. We should do less turnovers and hopefully gradually get back at the game. Nothing is impossible but it’s gonna be hard. As a player this game brings me back memories to when we won against Canada in 2010".

58-30 - the latest score as the game recommences.

Here we go! 

Hellooooo! This is us, L'Orient Today's sports team...along with other passionate fans from the wider team. We're here, snacking on our half-time snacks. 

What is your favorite Latvian proverb?

1. A smiling face is half a meal.

2. If your husband leaves you, simmer a sauce, he'll come back running.

3. Even a blind hen sometimes catches a grain.

4. Death doesn't look at teeth.

Your comments are welcome!

Well, now that we have 15 minutes to spare, let's share a few Latvian proverbs to acquaint you with the lesser-known culture of this small Baltic country with less than 2 million inhabitants.

Thoughts from the sports desk at L'Orient Today. Well, it's been a catastrophic end to the first half for our Cedars, trailing by 25 points: 55-30. It's time to be more aggressive on rebounds. It's frustrating because the Lebanese team displayed some promising moments in these first 20 minutes, but only in spurts...

It's Wael here in the fan zone...Not the score fans were wanting at half time. Latvia 55-30 Lebanon. Fans are looking frustrated with Lebanon’s misses.

Back at L'Orient Today HQ, where we're all watching the game. Another 3-pointer for the Latvians... 45-30. "We're defending like amateurs," a journalist from the L'Orient Today editorial team exclaims.

Hello again from Pros cafe in Dekwaneh, Lebanon. It's Wael here for L'Orient Today.  

I've been chatting with Guy hamawi, 33, whose here for the match, about Lebanon's chances in this game.

“Our players showed great potential in the 2022 Asia cup and the effect of Coach, al-Hajj on the team was obvious and I hope it’s gonna continue in this World Cup. I hope Omari Spellman performs. I would give it a 7/10 chance for us to win today”

The ball is indeed returned to the Lebanese team! But Haidar isn't lucky... he misses an open basket. The score remains 43-28.

Referee decision time... Let's hope the referees don't start to give us a hard time...the ball was unfairly taken away from the Lebanese player. A video challenge has been requested by the Lebanese side...

There you go, Omari! You proved us wrong! The American just made his first basket before being blocked by Darwiche once again. And now the score is 43-28. Come on, guys! ??????

The commentators are discussing Omari Spellman's fitness level. The American who obtained citizenship in April doesn't seem to be in the best shape. 

These Latvians are relentless with their 3-pointers... another successful shot. It's 38-22, Coach El-Hajj calls for a timeout. And now it's 43-24.

Arakji is clearly not in his element for the start of the match. The Lebanese team appears to be tense so far, and are struggling to find their rhythm.

The Latvians resume their momentum right from the start of the 2nd quarter. They are 6 for 9 in three-pointers, with a shooting success rate of 66%.. compared to only 35% for Lebanon. The aim needs to be adjusted, guys!

So here we go again - Latvia 30 - Lebanon 17. All to play for!

Update from the fan zone in Dekwaneh: Jean Abdelnour, one of the best players in the history of the national team, just walked in to watch the game.

The atmosphere is still vibrant among the fans - despite the scoreline so far.

After a strong start by the Lebanese team, Latvia has found its rhythm and has started scoring long-range baskets. The score is 27-15 in favour of Latvia, and they've taken an initial lead.

Hey it’s Wael and I’m at Pros cafe in Dekwaneh, Lebanon. The big venue is full - that’s despite the fact that it’s 12 pm and everyone is working.

Lots of fans were clapping at the beginning of the game. They’re looking forward to some big slam dunks.

(Credit: João Sousa)

After thirteen years of waiting, Lebanon is making a comeback to the Basketball World Cup. For the fourth time in their history, the Cedars are facing off against the elite of the basketball world, starting with three tough opponents: Latvia, Canada, and France, one of the favorites for the ultimate victory.

Welcome everyone to our live coverage of the basketball game between Lebanon and Latvia!