The Lebanese men's basketball team began its matches in the Asian Cup hosted in Indonesia, which runs until July 24, with a significant victory over the Philippine team, concluding the game with a score of 95-80 on Wednesday afternoon. This match was part of Group D, which also includes New Zealand and India. The Lebanese team deserved this victory as they managed to absorb the "Philippine resistance" at the start of the game, maintaining control and continuing their strong performances recently.
Lebanon is now the only Arab team to win so far in the current tournament, as all other Arab teams, including Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Bahrain, lost their opening matches. The game started with close scores, ending the first quarter with the Philippines leading 27-22 after making four three-pointers.
In the second quarter, Lebanon imposed its rhythm and gradually narrowed the gap, finishing the second quarter 46-39 in its favor, as the Lebanese players, led by Wael Arakji, aimed for victory and shared the top spot in the group with New Zealand, which had defeated India.
At the beginning of the third quarter, a "three-point battle" ensued between the players of both teams, with clear Lebanese dominance in rebounds, offense, and defense. The Lebanese team increased its lead, concluding the third quarter with a 65-51 advantage, showcasing an impressive performance similar to their earlier strong showings against Jordan on July 1 and Saudi Arabia on July 4 during the World Cup qualifiers.
In the final fourth quarter, the Philippine team attempted a comeback, but the Lebanese team knew how to maintain their lead and slow down the pace of the game thanks to the experience of their players, ultimately ending the match with a 15-point lead at 95-80, achieving their first win in their opening game of the 2022 Asian Cup.
Lebanon will face New Zealand on Friday at 4 PM Beirut time in a match that will determine the "leader" of Group D, advancing directly to the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, the teams finishing second and third in each group will play for a chance to advance to the quarter-finals. Lebanon will conclude its first-round matches against India on Sunday, July 17, at 7 AM Beirut time.
