AMMAN (Jordan) - When Aida Bakhos talks about feeling like she's been let out of a cage and is now back in her happy place at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup Division B, you can see exactly what she means.

Because of the pandemic, it's been a rough situation for most of us, but with Lebanon also experiencing the tragedy of the Beirut Port explosion and a biting economic situation, the need to get people smiling again in the country has never felt quite so urgent.

The experienced Bakhos is ready to carry the responsibility for delivering a much needed boost to her people, through winning the title and advancing to Division A.

"WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE BEEN PUT IN A CAGE FOR TWO YEARS...NOW WE HAVE BEEN LET LOOSE. IT WILL BE A WILD RIDE FOR US, BUT A FUN ONE" - Aida Bakhos

She said: "This year we have a great chance. I think we are the best team. If we do it, I think it would be a great win for Lebanese basketball and also Lebanese people, who are going through a lot with the ecomonic crisis and because of the explosion.

"I really want to be able to give it my all and to leave it all on the court, so that we can dedicate a possible tournament win to the people.

"We all want to bring them some hope and pleasure, instead of them being sad about everything that is going on.  We are aware that we are their hope and we all know how important it is for everybody in our country."

"This tournament is our happy place as we feel like we have been put in a cage for two years with everything we have had to deal with and now we have been let loose. It will be a wild ride for us, but a fun one.

She continued: "This is one of the best teams that Lebanon will ever have. All of us are our hungry to win, we are fighters and you will see people diving on the ball throughout the competition.Everyone can see that we are determined to enjoy it, to make entertain, make behind-the-back passes and score lots of three-pointers.

"When this national team comes together, we only have one purpose and that is to win. We are ready to show everyone what we are made of and I hope everyone back home will be supporting us and we can make them all proud."

Even if they looked rusty and far from convincing in beating Iran in their opening game, they got through a big test and with 17 points, Bakhos underlined why she gives them that important kind of edge that any Championship-bound team needs.

"My expectations are always to be a leader on the team. I feel like I am the joker (card) in terms if being able to play so many different positions," explained the forward.

"I am capable of playing defense, offense, scoring, rebounding and so anywhere the coach puts me, I am able to perform and lead with my aggressiveness and passion for the game."

Meanwhile throw in the experience and quality of playmaker Rebecca Akl who has been playing EuroCup Women with KP Brno and it will may take something special to take down Lebanon.

"It is a team sport and we all have to play together to win, but by having a ture point guard like Rebecca is a huge accomplishment," insisted Bakhos.

"She is one of the best and can handle any pressure that comes her way. She leads the team and playing with her as a teammate is amazing. We actually won a club Championship together in Lebanon earlier this year. 

"I am always happy to play alongside her because then the pressure is not just on me, I have someone else with me that can be trusted and I can count on. 

"When I could not score, she could score and vice-versa. She is a huge plus for the national team and I am so glad that she is able to be with us."

Taking Lebanon to the golden ticket of a Division A return would mean a lot to Bakhos because she has had to wait four years since the disappointment of 2017 when they had to accept third spot in India.

"In 2017 we had no luck and suffered a lot of injuries," she recalled.

"I was playing with one and I was out of shape. I have a lot to prove to myself and to give back to the national team as I was not at my best

"This time we are ready. We also have an amazing coach and great staff who are all very knowledagable, so there are absolutely no excuses at all. As players, we have to keep performing and push on to win the tournament." 

Finally, if they do successfully stamp their pass to the top tier for 2023, it would complete a nice circle for Bakhos, who actually started her national team career a decade ago, which was the last time Lebanon appeared in Division A.

She said: "My memories of Japan ten years ago are amazing as I was very young and it was actually the first time that I represented the Lebanese national team because I used to play in the States. 

"I did not have a big role, but I got to learn from the older players who had been playing for a while, so it was an amazing tournament, where I learned a lot. 

"I got to play and compete against some of the best players in the world and I also discovered that one of the biggest pleasures is to come together and represent your national team," concluded Bakhos.

FIBA