Wednesday, October 5, 2022 – 11:52 PM
ABU DHABI, 5th October/WAM/ Fadi Al-Khatib, the former Lebanese basketball star and legend, confirmed that Abu Dhabi’s hosting of two preliminary matches in the NBA competitions is an exceptional and unique event that contributes to a qualitative leap for the UAE basketball.
The 2021 championship-winning Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks will meet on October 6 and 8 at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, for the first time in the Arabian Gulf region.
Al-Khatib, who is a member of the FIBA Technical Committee, said: “The UAE’s success in attracting the NBA to hold its competitions in Abu Dhabi, and attracting two teams such as the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks, which includes among its ranks the most important player in the world currently, who is Yannis Antetokounmpo is a sign of the value and standing of Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a whole for the world.”
He added: “As Arabs, we are proud of the Emirates, which makes history and contributes to a qualitative leap in the world of sports and gives impetus to Emirati and Arab basketball, and demonstrates the strength of this game, especially with the general tendency of those responsible for Emirati sports to pay more attention to basketball, which was reflected in the presence of A current boom in the level of the game in the Emirates.”
Al-Khatib has a long record with Lebanese basketball, as he contributed to leading his country to qualifying for the World Cup 3 times in 2002, 2006 and 2010, in addition to winning many local, Arab and continental titles, which he achieved with the Lebanese national team and with the Lebanese teams in which he played. .
Awad Mokhtar/ Waleed Farouk/ Assem Al-Khouli