Lebanon’s basketball team defeated New Zealand, with a score of 77-65, in the FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers – window 5.
Lebanon succeeded to defend its homecourt despite missing key players, Wael Arakji and Sergio Darwish, and dealt with New Zealand, which got their first defeat in the Asian Qualifiers “thanks to a strong finish down the stretch,” as described by FIBA.
This win led Lebanon’s basketball team to top Group E, before facing its Indian counterparts next Sunday.
Lebanon is participating in the World cup for the 4th time in history after qualifying in 2002, 2006, and 2010.
Additionally, The Cedars achieved their first victory over New Zealand in the last Asian Championship, in which the Lebanese basketball players were announced as the runner-ups.