DOHA (Qatar) - In what is sure to go down in the annals of Asian Qualifiers basketball as an all-time classic, favorites Lebanon survived a massive scare against Qatar to begin their quest for a World Cup 2027 spot on a winning note.
After trailing through nearly the first two and a half quarters, hosts Qatar, led by their sensational point guard Brandon Goodwin came to life midway through the third frame.
Thereafter, it was game on, as the teams traded multiple lead changes before the Cedars prevailed 75-74 at the final buzzer.
TURNING POINT
Q4. 17 secs left for the final buzzer. Young star Lebanese forward Youssef Khayat showed he is ready for the big occasion with an acrobatic layup to take the Cedars ahead for good.
KEY PLAYER
Qatar's Brandon Goodwin. The hosts may have lost yet again this year in another cliffhanger to Lebanon, but Goodwin proved his chops by scoring a bulk of his 17 points in the second half to rally his team to an almost victory.
Of course, Lebanon were led by their trusted star, Wael Arakji, who had an excellent line of 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists.
STATS DON’T LIE
The game saw a whopping 16 lead changes, with players from both teams stepping up with crucial buckets - whether from beyond the arc, from the free throw line, or else through steals and layups.
BOTTOM LINE
While Qatar is already assured of a spot in the 2027 flagship showpiece, this team is proving that it is on a resurgence that will have other Asian heavyweights worried.
And Lebanon? Well, they showed, once again, that they will always find a way to win.
THEY SAID
"Thank God for the win...It's an ugly win but we'll take it any day. It's a good start to our campaign...This is my first win of my career as national team coach, so it means a lot to me." - Lebanon Head Coach Ahmad Farran
"For me personally I had a bad first half, so I had to rely on my teammates, especially in the second half [during] the last couple of minutes." - Lebanon forward Youssef Khayat, emphasizing how it was not just his clutch shot alone that sealed the win.
“We actually fought hard for 40 minutes, even though we had a slow start. I think it came down to small details, maybe a little bit of luck at the end of the game.” - Qatar point guard Moustafa Fouda
“Our aim is to make Qatar Basketball on the top level in Asia.” - Qatar Head Coach Hakan Dakir
Watch the full post-game press conference:
The return leg of Lebanon vs Qatar will take place on November 30 in Zouk Mikael, Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex, at 21:00 (GMT+2) local time.
Stream the action on Courtside 1891, with live games and on-demand replays. Blackouts might apply in certain territories.
FIBA