AHMEDABAD (India) – Discerning eyes at the Veer Savarkar Indoor Stadium were taken on a trip down memory lane while watching Yusuf Takriti in Saturday’s duel between Syria and Lebanon at the FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2026.
The Al Karama youngster scored 15 points to lead the young Eagles to their first victory in the competition in 14 years – and against their much-fancied counterpart, who also happens to be their WABA arch-rival.
For those familiar with Syrian basketball, there were also glimpses of the playing style and courtcraft of legendary Damascus spearhead Mumtaz Malas, considered by many as a pioneer in bringing Syrian basketball into the limelight in the 1960s and 70s.
Much water has since flowed down the Euphrates, Tigris and Barada, Malas went on to become a respected administrator – serving as president of the National Federation – while simultaneously going on to become a renowned dentist, while Syrian basketball itself has experienced its share of ups and downs.
Yet, for the connoisseur, there is a feeling that Takriti could be the catalyst for Syria to rediscover the heights they can reach.
Mention the comparison to Takriti and he responds coyly. “It’s a huge compliment, and I really appreciate the comparison," he said.
Of course, given his age, Takriti could never have seen Malas play.
“Yes, I haven’t had the chance to see him play, but I have heard a lot about him. Being compared to such a great legend of Syrian basketball makes me very proud."
Hopefully, I can continue improving and create my own name in Syrian basketball.
Syrian basketball has experienced a significant see-saw of fortunes over the last two decades.
Under the tutelage of George Zedan, Syria won the bronze medal at the 2008 edition of the then-FIBA Asia U18 Championship. That finish earned them a place at the FIBA U19 World Championship in New Zealand the following year – the only time Syria have participated in a global competition at that level.
The bronze ended an 18-year medal drought, following Syria’s silver-medal finish at the 1990 edition in Nagoya, where they lost to Japan in the Final.
It has now been another 18 years without a medal.
Takriti believes the victory over Lebanon can be the first step towards ending that wait.
“I believe our chances are higher now, but we still have a lot of work to do,” he said.
Syria, having virtually sealed their place in the Qualification to the Quarter-Finals, will face Bahrain in their final Group B assignment this Monday at 16:30 local time.
With both teams going into that game with a 1-1 record – having beaten Lebanon and lost to New Zealand – the encounter is a virtual play-off for the No. 2 spot in Group B, and thus a chance to play against the No. 3 team from Group A in the Qualification to Quarter-Finals.
“We have a lot of confidence in what we can do, and we know that if we continue preparing well and playing together, we can compete against the teams in this tournament," he said.
“Hopefully, we can get more wins and achieve our goal of qualifying for the 2027 FIBA U19 World Cup.”
That confidence is understandable, particularly after a victory over Lebanon, whom Syria had lost to during the WABA Qualifiers. Syria also lost to Iran in that competition but secured the third available slot from the FIBA Asia Sub-Zone.
“You can’t beat Lebanon just by luck. It came from our preparation, determination, belief and trust in each other. We have a lot of respect for Lebanon because they are a very good team, but we were prepared and wanted the win more,” he said.
The experience gained during the WABA Qualifiers also proved invaluable.
“We played close games against Lebanon and Iran. Even though we lost both games, we learned a lot from them and saw that we could compete with strong teams," he said.
“Then, winning against Jordan, Iraq and Palestine gave us even more confidence. We came into this tournament believing in ourselves, but we also knew that we still had a lot of preparation and improvement to do,” added Takriti, who averaged 16.4 points over five outings in the Qualifiers.
That preparation, however, is only part of what has helped Takriti take his game to another level.
“The support I have from the coaching staff, my teammates, my family, and the Syrian fans gave me a lot of confidence. Knowing that the people around me believe in me helps me trust myself and play my game," he said. "I also knew that I had prepared well and that I could help my teammates and the team in different ways.”
For now, the focus is firmly on the present, but Takriti already has his sights set on a bigger future – for himself and for Syrian basketball.
“Hopefully, in the next couple of years, I can continue improving and eventually sign with a big club. My goal is to keep developing as a player, represent Syria at the highest level I can, and make the country proud," he said.
Hopefully, I can have a successful career and contribute to the future of Syrian basketball.
For a country that has been waiting 18 years for another medal at this level, that future cannot come soon enough.
And if Takriti continues along the path he has begun, Syria may have found the young catalyst capable of helping them turn the page.
FIBA