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20 November, 2017
26 February, 2019
44 Ahmad Al Dwairi (JOR)
25/02/2019
News
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Al Dwairi makes up for lost time with Jordan, excited for more at World Cup

AMMAN (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers) - The Falcons of Jordan needed this win over New Zealand, and they knew they were going to get it easily. New Zealand had already qualified for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 and this particular game against Jordan didn’t bare much meaning for the Tall Blacks.

Whether New Zealand won or lost, they would end up with the best record in Group E; however, they were out here to play basketball and to win, evident in their recent win against Lebanon only 2 days prior in Beirut on a Tom Abercrombie game winner.

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👀 @tomabo10 🇳🇿’s Game-Winning Three-Pointer 🏀🏀🏀 #FIBAWC #ThisIsMyHouse @Tallblacks

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Still, Jordan really needed this win to qualify for the World Cup, and they got it with a strong second half to power the way for an 86-80 victory.

"That’s a good New Zealand team," said head coach Joey Stiebing in the postgame press conference. "You aren’t going to stop them every possession, but during the key stretches of the game, we had great defense intensity to cause turnovers or force them into taking bad shots."

Over the course of all 12 games in the Asian Qualifiers, New Zealand were statistically the best offensive team with 90.8 points per game on 48.3% shooting from the field (second among all teams). They also led the field in three-point shooting with a blistering 41.9% clip.

In this game though, Jordan were able to hold New Zealand to 80 points, 38.7% shooting from the field, and only 30% shooting from beyond the arc. Jordan's guards and wings swarmed the New Zealand perimeter options throughout the whole game, and when the ball went into the paint, the Tall Blacks ran into Ahmad Al Dwairi.

"Having this guy on the back end to rebound and alter shots and then offensively to give us an added firepower was a big lift for us," Coach Stiebling said as he nodded over to Al Dwairi who was seated next to him. "I’m thankful that he decided to come here."

25-year-old Al Dwari had played in only 4 games prior to this clash against New Zealand, with the last game being back in a loss to China in September. Limited with his commitments to his professional club in Turkey, the rising star center was only announced to have joined the team just one day before the final gameday.

"I’m sorry because I couldn’t be at the game against China," Al Dwairi said. "But I trusted my teammates. It’s not about me, it’s about the team."

Jordan got a team effort in front of their home crowd at the Prince Hamza Stadium against New Zealand with 4 players scoring in double-digits. Dar Tucker was his usual self with 25 points, 14 rebounds, and 8 assists. Zaid Abbas contributed with 12 points and 11 boards. Mousa Alawadi had his best game of the Asian Qualifiers with 21 points on 5-of-6 shooting from long range.

But it was a solid outing by Al Dwairi with 15 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block that gave Jordan the extra firepower they needed to snap New Zealand's 10-game winning streak.

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👊There's no stopping @ahmetduverioglu🇯🇴!! #FIBAWC #ThisIsMyHouse @jbf_jo

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The victory powered Jordan to qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup, making it only their second appearance at the competition. It will be the first time ever playing at that stage for Al Dwairi, and he can’t wait.

"I feel great, it was unbelievable," Al Dwairi said of his feelings after the win. "I’m so excited for the World Cup."

"We will get you more than one day right?" Coach Stiebling immediately quipped at his star center to which both shared a laugh afterwards.

It should be pretty safe to say that when the World Cup starts from August 31 to September 15 later this year, Ahmad Al Dwairi will be more than ready to serve Jordan for their entire stretch.

FIBA