On Friday, Lebanon’s national basketball team scored a decisive victory against India and got one step closer to qualifying for the upcoming International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia 2021 Cup.
With this Window 2 win, the Cedars solidify their position at the top of Group D of the Qualifiers with an unblemished winning streak in the competition thus far.
The Friday game, which took place in Manama, Bahrain, was dominated by the Lebanese team early on as their rivals, who were missing two of their experienced players, struggled to keep up. The result was a 115-60 win for Lebanon.
Wael Arakji, the Lebanese team’s highest scorer in the competition so far, scored 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in the game that saw 7 other Lebanese players scoring at least 9 points.
The 115 points Lebanon scored against India is the 3rd most won in a game by any team in the Asia Cup Qualifiers so far, with the 2nd being 116 points, also scored by the Cedars when they defeated Bahrain earlier this year.
It’s worth noting that the Lebanese men’s team currently ranks 57th in the world and 9th in Asia, according to FIBA.
Lebanon is set to face the Iraqi national team next in a match due Sunday, November 29th at noon in Manama, nearly 3 months before the opening of the final window of the Qualifiers, which will take place from 18 to 22 February.
The top two teams in each of the 6 groups (Lebanon is currently at the top of its group) at the end of the Qualifiers will directly qualify for FIBA Asia Cup 2021.
