AMMAN (WABA Championship) - A clash between Lebanon and Iran in international basketball always whets the appetite for fans in the two countries.

Their hunger to see the latest battle between the rivals will be satisfied on Tuesday when the two meet at the WABA Championship in Amman. The contest will be a potential title decider with each team having won its opening two encounters.

"We're ready to face Iran despite the lack of preparation time, but the chemistry and the fighting spirit is there in the team," Lebanon veteran Fadi El Khatib said to Arabasket.

"We won the first two games (in Amman) pretty easily and it was a chance for us to see what we did wrong and improve for the Iran game."

"We're counting on the backing of the Lebanese fans because that will motivate us more. We want to win this for the fans, and winning WABA will be for them." - El Khatib

Lebanon, as the host nation of the FIBA Asia Cup 2017, do not need a top-four finish at the WABA Championship to qualify whereas Iran do. However, there is plenty of incentive for the Cedars to get the win.

It's called bragging rights. Iran have won a record six WABA Championships to Lebanon's four.

"As always, the game against Iran will be a strong one," El Khatib said. "We didn't come to Amman to qualify for FIBA Asia Cup 2017 because we already are. We came here to win the WABA Championship so the win will very much put us in pole position.

"The Iranian national team is always competitive and strong. Both teams are ready for the showdown and we’re counting on the backing of the Lebanese fans because that will motivate us more. We want to win this for the fans, and winning WABA will be for them."

FIBA