EAST JERUSALEM (FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2017) - Palestinian club Sareyyet Ramallah are pinning their Champions Cup hopes on frontline brothers Salim and Sani Sakakini.

Salim and Sani are standouts of the Palestine national team, famously carrying them to a big upset win over the Philippines in the FIBA Asia Cup 2015. Their presence in the paint for Sareyyet Ramallah will boost their chances of making it past the group phase.

Sani Sakakini is hands down the most dominant Palestinian player on this lineup and will surely make an impact - if he plays. Coach Guy Arnaud would love nothing more than to have the 2.04m big man play in the Champions Cup, but Sani's status is still up in the air, especially with his commitments to other club teams.

Coach Arnaud, however, can still rely on foreign players Anthony Weeden, Jr. and Todd O'Brien to carry the load for Sareyyet Ramallah. The 1.83m Weeden last played in Lebanon for Mayrouba, averaging 20.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, while the 2.13m O'Brien has been a journeyman all over the globe. The 28-year-old center has gone on to play most recently in Russia, Lebanon and Latvia.

Sareyyet Ramallah were drawn into Group A together with Kazakhstan's BC Astana, Iran's Petrochimi, Thailand's Mono Vampire and Chooks To Go from the Philippines. Defending champions China Kashgar are in Group B together with squads from the United Arab Emirates, India, Lebanon and Chinese Taipei. The top four teams in each group will move on to the knockout Quarter-Finals, where the victors will advance to the Semi-Finals. The winners in the Semi-Finals will dispute the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2017 crown in the Final.

FIBA