JAKARTA (Indonesia) - Lebanon and Australia win rivalry grudge matches to set up a meet in the Final of the FIBA Asia Cup 2022.

Australia were the first to make it to the Asia Cup 2022 Final with an exciting win over New Zealand, 85-76.

The Boomers had a strong first half which allowed them to build up a head as big as 16 points before heading into the halftime break up 49-37. The Tall Blacks responded with their strong play down low, especially from Sam Timmins, to get as close as 2 points late in the fourth quarter.

True to form, the defending Asia Cup champions remained composed and drilled back-to-back three-pointers with less than three minutes to go in the game to seal the deal.

Thon Maker made many key baskets for Australia in the second half, including a personal 7-2 run in the third quarter as well as the three-pointer in the last quarter when New Zealand closed the gap to only 2 points. Maker ended the game with 18 points and 9 rebounds.

The guards were the top players for the Boomers in this Semi-Finals win as Mitch McCarron and Will White combined for 28 points and 14 assists while not committing a single turnover.

New Zealand’s Flynn Cameron was able to log 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists but was locked up all game by Australia’s defenders. The Tall Blacks got big contributions from Jordan Hunt who had his best game of the competition so far with 16 points on 4 three-pointers as well as big man Sam Timmins who had 16 points and 8 rebounds.

The Boomers are now headed to a second consecutive Asia Cup Final with the win. The 9-point loss by New Zealand is the closest any team has come to beating Australia in the Asia Cup.

Lebanon won a game for the ages against Jordan on another Wael Arakji game-winner, 86-85.

Everyone at the Istora Senayan were on the edge of the seats throughout the entire 40 minutes of the game. The lead switched hands 12 times, with Lebanon leading for just under 20 minutes while Jordan controlled the lead for just under 16 minutes.

Both teams traded clutch moments down the stretch, but it was the massive block by Ali Haidar on Amin Abu Hawwas and a classic Arakji floater that sealed the win for the Cedars.

Arakji had another monster game of 25 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals on 9-17 shooting. The Cedars also got bug games from Sergio El Darwich (18 points, 8 rebounds, and clutch three-pointers) and Ali Haidar (10 points, 8 rebounds, one clutch block).

Jordan were shorthanded early on as Ahmad Aldwairi left the game due to an injury, but everyone else in the team picked up on the effort to force the best out of each team. Freddy Ibrahim took over in the third quarter to keep the game close and even give Jordan the lead, finishing the game with 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assist. Amin Abu Hawwas also had his best game of the Asia Cup with 24 points on 50 percent shooting.

The win puts Lebanon in the Asia Cup Final for the first time since 2007, where they will get the chance to win their first ever Asia Cup.

Turning points

New Zealand had clawed their way into a 2-point deficit after a four-point play by Kruz Perrott-Hunt with all the momentum in the world… only to have it doused in the next immediate possession. New Zealand had played excellent defense for 23 seconds of the shot clock, but were just too slow to close out on a spectacular kickout pass from Mitch McCarron to Maker.

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The Boomers made two more three-pointers after this one and it was game, set, match.

Meanwhile, in the game between Lebanon and Jordan... ASIA CUP FANS ARE OVERDOSING ON WAEL ARAKJI GAME-WINNERS AND THEY CANNOT GET ENOUGH.

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Game Heroes

Will White drained the last two three-pointers for Australia, wrapping up what was close to a perfect game for the Boomer. He had 15 points on 5-18 shooting with 7 assists and no turnovers.

So many heroic moments on the other side of the bracket. El Darwich’s back-to-back threes to give Lebanon their first lead of the fourth quarter. Haidar’s monster block to keep Jordan from tying the game. Arakji’s game-winning floater.

WHEW.

Stats don’t lie

As expected, Australia didn’t have as big of an advantage over New Zealand on the glass as they did against previous opponents (New Zealand had 40-38 rebounding advantage) so they had to be extra careful with their possessions. The succeeded in doing so, committing only 5 turnovers which was even less than their average through this tournament so far.

This loss is a tough pill to swallow for Jordan, not only for losing by one-point to a rival but for leaving so many points at the free-throw line. Jordan shot 13-28 from the charity stripe in this game and all they needed was just two of those misses to go in. 

They said:

 "In a game as emotional as this, it’s either you win or you learn. I think it’s a big lesson in the future for how we can deal with this type of game. Personally, I believe this is where we belong - in the final four of the Asia Cup." - Wesam Alsous, Jordan Head Coach

"Finals, baby."

"Giving up isn’t an option. We will fight for the title." - Jad El Hajj, Lebanon Head Coach, on the Asia Cup Final matchup

FIBA