LIB - FIBA Asia give nod to Lebanon for Asia Championship

TOKYO (FIBA Asia Championship) - The road to the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup for Asian teams will go through Lebanon.

That announcement was made on Wednesday by FIBA Asia after a vote by its executive committee.

The Philippines and Iran also made bids to host the event but Lebanon won the day.

Lebanon has never hosted the FIBA Asia Championship, and this could be the national team's best chance to finish top of the podium.

The country lost in the Finals of 2001, '05 and '07.

Lebanon had their best known basketball player, Fadi El Khatib, submit their bid.

El Khatib has played for the Lebanese at the last three FIBA World Championships.

“We had excellent bids from three top teams in FIBA Asia," said FIBA Asia President Sheikh Saud bin Ali Al-Thani.

"This is a sign that FIBA Asia has made progress in its organization and administration. It is unfortunate that there is only one event for us to award and it has go to only one of the three bidders."

The stakes are always high at FIBA Asia Championships and that will be especially true in 2013 because the three teams to reach the podium will play at the inaugural FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

Iran had won two FIBA Asia Championships in a row before falling in an upset to Jordan in the Quarter-Finals of last year's event in China.

The Chinese then defeated Jordan in a thrilling Gold Medal Game.

Women's basketball was also monitoring events in Tokyo, where the executive committee was meeting.

That's because its members also gave a mandate to the FIBA Asia Secretary General to visit Thailand to evaluate their bid to host the 25th FIBA Asia Championship for Women.

“We have two contenders – Thailand and Japan," Khajirian said.

"We have hosted events, including the currently ongoing 4th FIBA Asia Cup, in Japan for the last two successive years.

"FIBA Asia believes in having as many countries to host its events as possible. Hence we will first evaluate Thailand’s bid."

FIBA