AMMAN (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers) - Jordan have been the darlings of the Asian Qualifiers, but what many haven't seen is how difficult their journey has been to get to this point.

Many players have stepped up big time for Jordan from Dar Tucker to veterans like Zaid Abbas, Mahmoud Abdeen and Mousa Alawadi. The return of big man Ahmad Al Dwairi has also given Al Nashama a huge boost, and with him in the fold, they will remain strong contenders to book tickets to China next year.

“The players deserve every credit if we make it - for staying together and fighting to keep basketball alive.”- Sam Daghlas

 And behind the success of those players has been head coach and Asian legend Sam Daghlas. The 38-year-old player-turned-coach has rallied Jordan in a very strong way during the Asian Qualifiers first round, and his trademark never-say-die attitude seems to have rubbed off on his wards. He's also quick to deflect the praise, underscoring the team's unity as they try to return to Asian hoops prominence.

"For us, there is no secret to success other than continuous hard work," said Daghlas. "I have great coaching staff along my side and amazing players that allow me to push them daily towards success."

Hard work is always necessary for success, but especially so in Jordan's context, given their seemingly perpetual concerns with support not just for the national team but for the sport itself. Sponsors have been difficult to come by in recent years and the Jordan Premier Basketball League missed having a 2017-2018 season. All these are not lost on Daghlas as he reflects on their journey to get to the second round.

"This has been such an uphill battle for us all, and we have been through a lot the past two years," he shared. "We have faced every challenge a team can face, but the sun did finally rise on us. Finally, all our hard work is paying off. We are now winning and now a lot who want to help the sport grow in our country."

Despite these hurdles, though, the team have performed at an optimum level, and Daghlas believes these have served as character-building elements for Al Nashama's players. For the former national team point guard, this group of players is notable for their resiliency throughout their tribulations.

"Jordanians players are special in my opinion," he said. "Jordan always had talent, whether it was in the 80s to 90s and our generation in the mid-2000s. And now we have this amazing relentless group, who are playing their hearts out for the sport and country every time they step on the court. I'm proud to be their coach."

As they carry a 5-win, 1-loss into Group E, Jordan are the top team, narrowly edging out Lebanon and New Zealand. Daghlas, however, knows that they must continue their consistently strong play if they are to march into the FIBA Basketball World Cup for only the second time in history. Expectations have risen after their sublime first round results, but the decorated mentor has faith that the team is up to the challenge.

"As a coach, you always have high expectations, but you do have to be realistic with the circumstances that are given for our players," he explained. "The second round is going to be a great test for us. We will be playing the powerhouses of Asia with Korea, China and New Zealand. It's going to be tough games, but we should be ready."

What Daghlas is a little worried about moving forward, however, is the availability of his players. Given the fact that a number of Jordan's stars play in different leagues, it's an ongoing challenge for Daghlas to pool them together and find enough time for them to train as a complete cast.

"I think the hardest part for our team is having our core players come a day or two before game time," he lamented. "It's tough on any team to do so and try to play as a unit."

At the end of the day, though, Daghlas remains driven to steer Jordan back onto the world stage. He believes they have what it takes to be among Asia's representatives in the World Cup and knows they can compete with the best teams on the planet.

More than that, however, as the retired floor general looks back at the history of Al Nashama and all the ups and downs of their Asian Qualifiers campaign, he knows that qualifying for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 will be a truly meaningful milestone for a national team that has had to go through the wringer so many times.

"Qualifying to the World Cup once again would mean so much for Jordan, especially after everything we have been through," he said. "The players deserve every credit if we make it - for staying together and fighting to keep basketball alive. I hope to see our players punch their ticket to FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019."

FIBA