Was Rony Fahed the best Asian point guard of the 2000s?
ASIA - Lebanon made 5 Asia Cup semifinals trip in the 2000s and a big part of that successful run was because of their star floor general, Rony Fahed. Let's take a look back at his FIBA Asia Cup career!
BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Even though China and Iran took their turns at the top of Asia in the early 2000s, Lebanon was not far behind. Lebanon were unable to win a championship in any of the 5 FIBA Asia Cups during the span of the 2000s, but they were the only nation to successfully make the semifinals each time. Let’s take a look back at the floor general of the mighty Cedars of the 2000s, Rony Fahed.
First Trip to the Finals
The FIBA Asia Cup 2001 was just the second time Lebanon were playing in the tournament. They had already broken through to the semifinals with a win over Japan and standing in their way was a Korean team that had taken them apart 97-71 in the group stages.
After going scoreless in their first match-up, Fahed went off for 23 points (then his Asia Cup high) to clinch Lebanon’s first ever trip to the title game. The 75-72 win would be just the first of an exciting rivalry between Fahed and the Korean national team.
Though Lebanon eventually lost to China in the finals, getting to the title game this year eventually started a long run of success for the national team. It also meant Lebanon's first trip the the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Curse of the Koreans
Korea was right up there with Lebanon as one of the stronger teams in Asia during that era, slightly below Iran and China. Time and again, Korea would run into a decisive game against Lebanon and sparks would fly. Fadi El-Khatib was always a major headache for Korea, but this match-up usually brought out the best in Rony Fahed as well.
Fahed usually didn’t need to be a volume scorer for the team, especially with El-Khatiub and Jackson Vroman on the team, but had some of his biggest games in crucial games against their East Asian rivals. Aside from the aforementioned 24-point attempt, Fahed also poured in 21 points on Korea in the quarterfinals of the 2009 Asia Cup. Lebanon won that game 68-65 to stop Korea’s 24 consecutive stretch of top 4 Asia Cup finishes.
Real Deal Rony
4 years removed from his performance to help Lebanon to their first FIBA Asia Cup finals (and after a heartbreak in the 2003 semifinals to - who else - Korea), Fahed was back at it again in the 2005 Asia Cup.
Facing a determined Qatari squad aiming to get to their first FIBA Asia Cup championship game, Fahed recorded his Asia Cup career-high of 25 points to lead Lebanon on towards an 83-79 win. Fahed might have put up a modest average of 10.8 points per game over his 39 Asia Cup games, but he often showed up big time for the big games.
What did you think of Rony Fahed’s career in the FIBA Asia Cup? Where does he rank all-time among guards in Asia?
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