ZOUK MIKAEL (Lebanon) - Lebanon advanced to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers' Second Round following a 99-56 win over India at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex on Monday night.
The Cedars jumped to a 22-7 lead and that proved to be the start of a lopsided affair on the way to becoming the seventh team after hosts Qatar, Australia, the Philippines, Jordan, Iran, and Saudi Arabia to move on.
The South Asian side, meanwhile, bowed out after dropping to 0-4 in Group D, and will have to wait for a few more years again to try and make it to the prestigious quadrennial tilt - a stage that it has never set foot on yet.
All 12 players of Coach Ahmad Farran scored in the victory, with rising star Jihad El Khatib and Hayk Gyokchyan leading the way with 16 points apiece on a combined 13-of-17 shooting from the field and 7 rebounds.
Amir Saoud made 11 points, while Karim Zeinoun supplied 11. Sergio El Darwich submitted numbers across the board with 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists as they all did just fine even without main man Wael Arakji.
Lebanon improved to 3-1 following the dominant win and will look to finish Window 3 by acing their two remaining games of the First Round, first against Saudi on July 2 and then versus India once more on July 5.
World Cup Pedigree
Lebanon
Number of participations: 4
Last participation: 2023 (23rd)
Best finish: 16th (2002)
Past Qualifiers
Edition | Record |
2023 (Q) | 7-3 (2nd in Group E - Second Round) |
2019 (Did not qualify) | 6-6 (5th in Group E - Second Round) |
Who will they face in the Second Round?
Group F
The top three teams from Group B and Group D will form Group F in the Second Round, carrying over all results from the First Round.
Group B |
|
|---|---|
Qualified |
|
In contention | Japan, Korea, China, Chinese Taipei |
Eliminated |
|
Group D |
|
|---|---|
Qualified | Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon |
In contention |
|
Eliminated | India |
FIBA