LIB / UAE – Fadi spearheads Lebanon win

TIANJIN (FIBA Asia Championship) - Spearhead Fadi El Khatib struck wonted form and Lebanon raced away to a 108-38 win against United Arab Emirates in a Group D game.

The result left both teams locked 1-1 in their win-loss record. Lebanon next play the winless Indonesia, while UAE take on the unbeaten Jordan.

“It’s nice to win after that shocking defeat. But I’m not satisfied with our rhythm yet,” said Lebanon coach Dragan Raca.

“It’s very similar to what happened last time,” Raca said of the defeat Lebanon suffered at the hands of Japan before a 5-0 winning run took them to the final in Tokushima 2007 FIBA Asia Championship.

“I have faith in my team to deliver,” he added.

Lebanon led 15-9 in the first five minutes and then built a 12-0 run to close the first quarter 34-13 ahead.

The silver medalists of the last edition didn’t have to worry much after that, and closed the game with a 30-0 scoring in the fourth quarter.

Fadi, who got a mere four shots at the goal in Lebanon’s opening night defeat to Jordan, returned a 67% scoring in the field (8/12), including converting one of his two three-pointer attempts.

Sharing the scoring honours with 19 points with Fadi was Jackson Vroman.

Vroman, naturalized recently, was ejected for two technical fouls towards the end of the third quarter, but did the damage before that.

The former New Orleans player had a 8/9 field record and pulled down a game-high seven rebounds – five in defence – before the lapse in temperament ejected him.

Matt Freije, like Vroman a 2004 NBA draftee, accounted for 15 points and also collected seven rebounds.

Rony Fahed who scored six points in Lebanon’s first quarter spree, contributed 13 points.

Talal Alnuaimi was the highest scorer for UAE.

S Mageshwaran
FIBA Asia

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