Jordan accomplish mission, now aim to improve for Asia Championship

AMMAN (2015 FIBA Asia Championship) - Jordan coach Rajko Toroman remains convinced that his team will be a major factor at the FIBA Asia Championship later this year in Changsha, China, if veterans Sam Daghlas and Zaid Abbas and rising star Ahmad Al Dwairi are in the squad.

None of the three were able to play for Jordan at the WABA Championship, an event that was held in Amman recently and one that Toroman's team finished second in.

The finish was good enough to qualify Jordan for the Asia Championship which will be held from 23 September until 3 October.

We were good, but I think we an improve a lot - Toroman

"We were good and competitive, and if we add some guys like Sam, Zaid Abbas and Ahmad Dwairi and have Alex [Legian], I think we'll be competitive with everybody," Toroman said to FIBA.com.

Legian, a naturalized player from the United States, performed very well in his first tournament with Jordan.

Most important of all for Toroman's squad at the WABA Championship was that it booked a place in Changsha-Hunan, and also bought some much needed time.

They now have the opportunity to get better in practice and hopefully, add the key players.

"The three guys are very important for us: Sam, Zaid and Dwairi," Toroman said.

"I said 90 percent they're in, and there are still some details [to address]. Sam is playing in the Philippines and has an injury, but if they join us, we'll be better.

"It was our target to qualify for the FIBA Asia Championship and we did it."

Toroman thinks the tough games that Jordan had at WABA will serve the squad well.

"I thought the competition was strong but we showed something at this tournament," he said.

"Palestine were never looking better than they did.

"The Iraqi team was good and Syria was experienced.

"We lost once to Lebanon, but I think Lebanon at this moment are ahead of us, the level of their league, their main players were there. [Fadi] El Khatib was there."

Toroman was especially complimentary of Palestine, who qualified for the FIBA Asia Championship for the first time in their history.

"Palestine, I think they have the potential to get better," Toroman said.

"They played good, especially Sani [Sakakini], probably the best player of the tournament.

"If they get Omar Krayem, who is playing in the Philippines, if they add him, they will be a very respectable team at the Asia Championship."

Krayem, a 28-year-old point guard who was born in Modesto, California, and played American college basketball for Eastern Washington, has been competing in Sweden's professional league.

He moved to the Philippines several weeks ago to play for Globalport Batang Pier in the Governor's Cup.

FIBA