JOR – Idais all smiles after great Jordan moment

AMMAN (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Ayman Idais was the happiest of players back on August 16 when he and his Jordan teammates defeated Lebanon for the second time at the FIBA Asia Championship.

The 80-66 triumph not only clinched a bronze medal for Jordan, but also sealed for them a place in the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

Idais, a 31-year-old power forward, had a very big hand in the success.

He averaged almost 11 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest in Tianjing.

At 6ft 10in, he was virtually unstoppable when he got into a shooting rhythm.

That's what Lebanon discovered in the bronze-medal game because Idais connected on six of eight shots from long range and finished with 20 points.

Idais was so thrilled and relieved that Jordan had won that he hugged everyone he could find, including reporters who asked him about the game.

He gave this interview to Jeff Taylor.

Ayman, talk about how things fell into place for Jordan at the FIBA Asia Championship.

Ayman Idais: We had been practicing hard and it just came together. We've practiced with coach (Mario) Palma and have been with him for three years. We came here to get it done, and finally we got it done.

Did you think you would claim a top three spot and make it to Turkey?

Ayman Idais: No, I did not expect it, to qualify for the FIBA World Championship, but the dream came true.

Playing at a FIBA Asia Championship is one thing but going to a FIBA World Championship is something else. What do you think about that?

Ayman Idais: We will have to work twice as hard for the World Championship as we did for the Asia Championship. We have a lot of work to do now because we will be taking on the world.

What is the biggest challenge for your team before next year?

Ayman Idais: Biggest challenge? We sometimes lose our concentration when we get up by double-digit points, allowing other teams to come back. That is something that we have to work at and hopefully when we get a lead, we will be able to keep it.

What do you have to say to the people in Jordan about the bronze medal and qualification for the FIBA World Championship?

Ayman Idais: We dedicate the bronze medal to the King of Jordan, and to all of the people who watched us and supported us.

FIBA