Matic thinking about Lebanon big man, draws comfort in having El Khatib

BEIRUT (2015 FIBA Asia Championship) - Lebanon were a big hit at the WABA Championship recently, storming to the title in Amman, Jordan, to seal their place in the FIBA Asia Championship.

It remains to be seen who will take on the all-important naturalized spot for the Lebanese, though, a role filled by wing Jay Youngblood in the WABA event.

Veselin Matic, the coach of Lebanon, would appear to be leaning towards taking a big center in the naturalized spot.

In an interview with the Daily Star in the country, he indicated as much.

"If you ask me, I would always say Julian [Khazzouh] is first choice," Matic said.

"He's got size, skills and experience.

"But if he could not join, we will seek to naturalize a good center.

"Which style do we need? I can say we need a very good level, someone who is at the level of [Hamed] Haddadi, [Andray] Blatche and Yi Jianlian.

Haddadi played for Matic when he coached Iran to the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship title while Blatche was the naturalized center of the Philippines at last year's FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

He [El Khatib] is a phenomenon. - Matic

Yi has played for China since the summer of 2004.

No matter who fills that role, Matic will draw on the comfort of having one of the country's finest ever players in the team, Fadi El Khatib.

A veteran forward, El Khatib revealed himself to still be at the top of his game at the WABA Championship.

"I remember playing against him [as Iran coach].

"He was always a force to reckon with, and seeing him at this level doesn't surprise me but definitely impresses me."

Lebanon will play in Group D of the FIBA Asia Championship against Chinese Taipei, Qatar and Kazakhstan.

FIBA