Arakji was the brightest name in Lebanon’s national team (Gary Lutolong/Getty)
Lebanon is going through an economic crisis amid a collapse in the price of the local currency once morest the US dollar, and a decline in the purchasing power of most Lebanese, through endless political problems and crises, to come Basketball As usual, she brings joy to everyone.
In a small country on the map that may not be known by many around the world, basketball always comes to elevate its name, following a historic victory in the 2006 World Cup at the expense of France and reaching the Asian Basketball Cup final 3 times, with players who took over the colors of the country of rice, similar to Tiger Fadi. Al-Khatib, passing through Elie Mechantaf, Joe Vogel, Ronnie Fahd and others, coach Jad Al-Hajj’s team came in the most difficult circumstance to grab the spotlight.
The Lebanon team’s trip was exceptional in this edition, especially following Australia and New Zealand became heavy guests on the yellow continent, in light of the high level provided by the players of these two countries from the Oceanic continent.
After achieving the Arab Cup title in Dubai, it was necessary for the Lebanese team to appear well in the Asian Cup, within a group characterized by great cohesion and discipline at the highest level, to know the players the level of responsibility and to represent their country, which needs joy.
Lebanon’s journey in the Asian Cup began with a victory over the Philippines, which is superior in the rankings, then came the most important victory at the expense of New Zealand for the first time in the confrontations of the two teams, to ensure that Wael Arakji’s colleagues topped the group before defeating India in an easy match in the third round.
The difficult task was in the quarter-finals, facing China, the Asian basket dragon, who dominated the continent for years and broke records, but the impossible was not Lebanese and the victory came in a distinctive way.
In the semi-finals, the meeting was enthusiastic to the extreme, the great Arab-Asian derby between Jordan and Lebanon, two teams with a similar level, distinguished names, and everything on paper was contained, some details made the difference, Ahmed Al-Duwairi was injured and Muhammad Shaher was expelled following his recklessness, in addition to the exceptional brilliance of Arakji. And block shot Ali Haidar, the extraordinary, to reach the final Lebanon by a point.
In the final match, everyone knew the difficulty of the task, that the manipulation of Australia, the international team and one of the best in the world, away from its names and changing them every period, it was not easy, of course.
Lebanon’s start to the match was poor. The team did not succeed in limiting the attacking tide of the kangaroo, amid a failure to score for Ali Haidar’s colleagues, who took the confrontation on his shoulders with Arakji, and in the end the defeat was by a difference of two points 73-75.
Lebanon won the admiration of all Arab fans, and even the world, as supporters of the Australian national team praised the players. Now the Cedars are returning to their homeland, which needs joy. A little joy in the midst of the blackness, and this is what Wael Araqji said in one of his statements, “We came from a broken and sad country.”