New Setback for Lebanon's Basketball Team

Lebanon's basketball team lost to host New Zealand by a margin of 15 points, with a final score of 91 - 106 (quarters: 20 - 30, 50 - 58, 80 - 84, 91 - 106) in a match held this morning at the City Arena in Wellington, New Zealand, during the final sixth window of the Asian qualifiers for the World Cup, which will be hosted by three Asian countries: Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines this summer. Lebanon had qualified for the World Cup for the fourth time in its history, after 2002, 2006, and 2010. The team suffered its third loss in the qualifiers, following an opening defeat against Jordan in Amman and then against the Philippines in Manila last Friday.