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To get there, they battled right down to the buzzer in opposition to China, successful 72-69 in opposition to the Asian powerhouse for the primary time ever within the event. Lebanon then held on to eke a 86-85 win in opposition to regional rival Jordan to make it into the championship recreation in opposition to Australia.
Ultimately, the Mediterranean nation went residence with second place after falling to the Aussies 75-73 — inching to inside one possession of the win after clawing again from a 15-point deficit with simply six minutes left within the recreation.
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“We simply wish to make our folks glad,” Arakji mentioned. “Seeing all these Lebanese followers supporting us, watching all these movies on social media, watching the children leaping from their seats, their mother and father having fun with the video games with their household is such an honor to all of us.
“It has been a tremendous feeling, a tremendous experience. Sadly, we completed second, however seeing the assist and the happiness we delivered to Lebanon made us really feel like we gained the event.”
The FIBA Asia Cup, which takes place each 4 years, sees groups throughout Asia and Oceania go face to face for the title of Asian champion.
The last word underdog
Australia is ranked third on this planet by FIBA, trailing solely america and Spain, so Lebanon was the final word underdog within the last. Ten out of the 12 crew members had by no means even performed within the Asia Cup earlier than, in keeping with Arakji.
Arakji tells CNN the event run signifies a lot greater than sport for his crew and his nation.
“Having the ability to attain second in Asia proper now exhibits that Lebanon won’t ever die,” he mentioned. “There’ll at all times be folks that can struggle for Lebanon — struggle for the Lebanese flag it doesn’t matter what occurs.”
“I wanted to jot down that as a result of we do not want them to experience the wave,” Arakji informed CNN.
“Folks in Lebanon are preventing for a dwelling. Folks in Lebanon are dying each day … In order a basketball participant, as a public determine, I needed to ship a message to the Prime Minister and to all politicians: There are numerous belongings you guys ought to take care about different than simply congratulating us.”
Regardless of the turmoil engulfing his nation, Arakji says his important focus is to maintain pushing ahead as a crew.
“We confirmed the world {that a} small crew from a small nation from a really strange league can struggle and might dominate massive groups sooner or later … We set the bar excessive, so we have to meet the expectation and maintain getting higher each day. I consider the sky is the restrict.”
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