Basketball: Lebanon crushed Korea in last game in Jones Cup

Lebanese basketball national team, ended his participation in “31st William Jones Cup Tournament “ (18-26 July) in Taiwan by 6 triumphs and 2 loss. Now they have moved toward a new camp in Manilla, where they will finish preparation before participating in “Fiba Asia Championship”, which will be held in Tianjin, China, August 6th and 16th.

The Lebanese head coach the Serbian Dragan Raca, was in a difficult situation during Taiwan’s tournament, due to the instability of his players especially that the new naturalized player, American Jackson Vroman, did not participate in the first three games because he was at NBA summer camp. Whereas Matt Freije joined the N.T. during the last two games, for the same reasons as Vroman’s, though he has shown an amazing capacity in offense and defense and fast adaptation which left the technical stuff comfortable after the last game against South Korea.

The Lebanese team showed different levels in Taiwan, and they faced a problem to maintain one level even in the same game, which cost them the defeat against Iran (81-70) after they dominating the game for 35 minutes by 10 points. On the contrary in their last game against Korea, Lebanese players, showed a “super” basketball, especially in 3rd and 4th quarter which allowed them to crush their opponents 97-79.

Matt Freije, was outstandingly incredible, with 39 points, 6 from 8 on 3 points line, added to them 12 rebounds, while the “Tiger” Fadi El Khatib, was a real leader, with 16 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds, as Vroman added 21 points and 7 rebounds.

Another new player is expected to join our N.T in Manilla’s camp: the New Mexico’s University center the promising player Daniel Faris, (22 years-old, 2,06cm- height) who is expected to be a big support for the Cedars Team especially that he has a strong presence under the basket.

Lebanon, will start his trip in Fiba Asia in group stage, by facing the Jordanian team, who was great in Jones Cup, by 7-1 record, the only defeat was against Iran after withdrawing from the game due to a protest against the referee’ decisions. Later they will play, against United Arabic Emirates, and then Indonesia.

Results in 31st William Jones Cup:

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  18/7: Taiwan B - Lebanon 61-93


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  19/7: Lebanon - Japan 90-81


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  20/7: Lebanon - Jordan 63-73


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  21/7: Lebanon – Kazakhstan 77-73


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  22/7:Phillipines-Lebanon 83-95


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  23/7:Taiwan-Lebanon 78-91


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  24/7: Lebanon - Iran 70-81


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  25/7:Lebanon-Korea 97-79

Wushu Kung-Fu: Lebanon 2nd of Arab Championship

Lebanese national Wushu- Kung-Fu team, ended his hosting to the 5th Arab Championship, which was held inFouad Chehab complex at Jounieh (20 Km North of Beirut), second in final standing, after he clinched 24 medals (10 gold, 2 silver, 12 bronze).

First place gone to Yemen with 32 medals (17 gold, 10 silver, 5 bronze) while Algeria finished 3rd after grabbing 20 medals (4 gold, 12 silver, 4 bronze).

The championship which was organized by Lebanese Wushu Kung-Fu Federation, under the supervision of Arabic Wushu Federation, was sponsored by Minister of Sports and Youth in Lebanon, Mr. Talal Erslan.

Different styles were played, Yemen won taulo for men, while Lebanon won sanda for men (free fight), and taulo for girls.In the rest of standing, Tunisia came 4th, Jordan 5th, Palestine 6th and Iraq 7th.

Football: Kassas signed with Shabab Al-Sahel

Lebanese international football forward, Mohammad Kassas has signed officially with Shabab Al-Sahel , one of the top divisions team in Lebanese league, to represent his team next year.

Kassas (33 years old), one of most Lebanese forwards succeeding, played last season with Safa, another team in top division, and helped him to reach the final of Asian Confederation Cup 2008-2009, before losing from Bahraini’s rival Muharraq who won the title.

The Lebanese old veterans, and who has represented Shabab Al-Sahel at 1999-2000, played with many team in his long career, like Sagesse, olympic Beirut, Nejmeh, Al-Ahed, and Saudi’s Al-Qadisia (2005-2006), and Syrian’s Al-Nwair (2008). He was Lebanese top scorer, 2003-2004, 2004-2005 while he was with Nejmeh, which helping his team to won two league championship titles.

Shabab Al-Sahel is looking to build a strong team which can fulfill their dreams to clinch the Lebanese League title, which they never taste it.

Volleyball: Two Brazilian players for Lebanese national team

MR. Jean Hammam, president of Lebanese volleyball federation, has announced that they are going to neutralized two Brazilians players to represent the national team in the coming events.

This announcement was during closing ceremony of local season, which was one of the best in last two decades, whether in the levels of the teams or the competitions or mass attendance, which gave a great push for a sport was one day, one of the best in Arab and Asia, before turned down due to Lebanese war (1975-1990).

Lebanese national teams, senior and youth, are practicing under German’s coach Peter Notenbrokh supervision, to participate in and Arab and Asia championships, which will be held in Lebanon (this month), and Philippine (next September), respectively.

Motors: Feghali grabbed his 7th title in Rally of Lebanon

Lebanese star driver Roger Feghali, has achieved a seventh historical win at 32nd Rally of Lebanon, the 4th round of Middle East championship, which was held at Lebanon, between 3rd and 5th of July, with a huge participations (41 teams).

Feghali, on Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, accomplished an easy win after he dominated the rally from the first, recording a 12 win from 12 in speed stages, and finishing with total time 2,40,20 hours, advanced his compatriot Gilbert Bannout, 2,50,48 hours on Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7, while the 3rd place gone to the Saudi driver Yazid Al Rajhi, 2,51,12 hours, on Peugeot 207 S 2000, a car cost about 800 thousands dollars.

This is the 6th consecutive win for Feghali in Rally of Lebanon, and 7th overall, (a record). The other crowning were 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008, note that Lebanese rally, was canceled at 2005 due to political reasons.

Feghali who is not participating in Middle East championship, showed a high skills on the asphalt roads, where Lebanese drivers always lead, and win, especially that, Rally of Lebanon is the only one on asphalt in Middle East while others are on the sands.

Rajhi succeeded to gabbed the 10 points for his competition on middle east title, which permit him to jump to the top in standings with 28 points. While Lebanese Nick jorgio, (4th overall) took 8 points, and Qatari Mubarak Al Hajiri, who finished 6th, took 6 points, meanwhile the former leader in Middle East Qatari Mesfer Al Merri finished 8th, and failed to extended his leadership, but still have a hope to win it, with 24 points, after Rajhi.

First 8 leaders in 32nd Rally of Lebanon

1- Lebanese Roger Feghali Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, 2,40,20 hours
2- Lebanese Gilbert Bannout Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, 7 2,50,48 h
3- Saudi Yazid Al Rajhi Peugeot 207 S 2000, 2,51,12 h
4- Lebanese Nick jorgio Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, 9 2,53,14 h
5- Qatari Mubarak Al Hajiri Subaru impreza, 2,55,02 h
6- Qatari Khaled Sowaidi Subaru impreza, 2,56,57 h
7- Lebanese Michel Saleh Subaru impreza, 2,57,35 h
8- Qatari Mesfer Al Merri Subaru impreza, 2,58,28 h

Eye on Lebanese basketball in Qatar’s participation

Lot of remarks was seen in the participation of our basketball N.T in Qatar’s friendly tournament, but the clear and simple one is that Serbian coach, Dragan Raca still have lot of work to finish, on tactical side, or psychological one. As till now, we don’t have clear system, despite we still in preparations stages, but, it was clear, that our players failed to reach a stable performance even in the same quarter sometimes, and it was a direct result for the unacceptable absence that we faced (Fadi, Brian, Vroman), especially all of them are starters.

In addition to these absences, we faced big problems in two positions, 1 and 5. In position 1 our players are not in shape, Rony fahed, is far away from his real level, he made lot of wrong decisions during the games at Qatar, and failed to convince, while Ali Mahmoud, who came back from injuries, was too much better then Rony, but till now he didn’t get back to his real performance (I think he will next few weeks), and the youth playmaker Rodrigue Akl, is so talented, but do not have enough experience to lead his team, meanwhile Omar Krayem (22 years old), is out of judging, since Raca refused –with unknown reasons- to give him “real chance”, and probably he will not be choosen between last 12 players.

On position 5, we will have big issues especially on defense; our team is missing a big guy, who can cover defensively this zone. Ali Kanaan, showed some good skills, but “till now”, he is not the guy who can occupied number 5 as a starter, while the new naturalized player, Vroman, who replaced Joe Vogel, is more good on 4 then 5. But we still have to see Daniel Faris, he has very good statistics with his univesity, New Mexico, and lot of hopes are building on him.

As for the psychological side, we still missing a fighting spirit, and team spirit, especially that we have at least 4 new players (including Matt and Daniel), who even, never been with any Lebanese club, which will be a hard-mission for Raca to accomplish it, with just one month before the launching of Fiba Asia Championship.On other hand, our new team, can be one of the dangerous offensively team in Asia Championship, and one of the fastest also, since we have great shooters and forwards, with high ability to score in very good percentage, which will be a strong point that we missed in our ex-N.T, were the scoring machine was only Fady, with some help from Brian or joe or Rony, but now, beside him, we have Vroman, Matt, and Daniel, supported by a big progression from Brian, without forgetting our high performance from all distance, or positions.

At the end, this team, can give a lot, and can go so far, if we success to reach a stability between the defense and offense, and creating a high chemistry between the players, especially the new ones. So once Raca, who is famous in his European basketball style, can build a strong defense, the Asian title will be closer then we think.

Lebanese basketball team continues his preparations

Lebanese national basketball team continues his preparations for his attending participation in Fiba Asia Basketball Championship, which will be held between 6 and 16 of August, in Tianjin, China, where the first three at the end of championship will qualify to Fiba world cup 2010 in Turkey.

For that, Lebanon has participated in a friendly tournament which took place in Qatar, between 1 and 5 of July, beside the host team, Iran, Asian title holder, and Egypt.

Iran-Lebanon

The first game against Iran who won 79-73 (Q1: 29-21, Q2: 47-40, Q3: 61-63, Q4: 73-79). It was ve rytough game, especially that the both teams are classified between the favorites to win the next Fiba Asia. Lebanese team missed Matt Freije and Daniel Faris, who did not join yet the N.T, while Iran missed her NBA giant Hamed Hadaddi and his fellow hamed Islamieh.

Lebanon dominated the first two quarters, and showed some good basketball, since it’s the first real preparation game, although, Lebanon faced, a big lack under the basket, with the absence of a real center, which will be a big problem for Lebanon head coach, the Serbian Dragan Raca, especially, that two of the best Lebanese centers, Muttahed’s player Roy Smaha, and Riyadi’s player Hussien Tawbe, are suffering from injuries.

By the beginning of the second half, the Persian team bounced back, while their competitors performance turned down, whether in offense and defense, and the Iranians succeed to score lot of basket s from inside and outside, with a great performance of their playmaker Mehdi Kamrani (13 pts, 6 assists), and their forward Smad Nikha (28 pts), while the Lebanese players were completely lost, with absence of a real system, and only Brian Beshara (13 Pts, 4Rbds, 4 Ass), performed good, despite that the best scorers were Fadi El Khatib (24 Pts, 6 Rbds) who was clear that he suffered an increasing in weight, and the new naturalized Jackson Vroman (21 Pts, 7Rbds).

Qatar-Lebanon

The second game was against Qatar, one of strongest team in Asia, who played in the last world cup that took place in Japan. Our N.T, missed Fadi El Khatib who left the team due to a personal reason, but despite that, we played a very good game, comparing to the first one, and we succeeded to achieve a big victory 85-70 (Q1: 21-20, Q2: 44-33,Q3: 66-52,Q4: 85-70).

The Cedar’s team, showed a balance in offense and defense, and reached a very high performance, especially with Brian Beshara (25Pts, 5 Rbds, 3Ass), and Jackson Vroman (29 Pts, 8Rbds, 4 Ass), Jean Abedel Nour (10 Pts, 2 Rbds) and Elie Rostom on defense (3 Pts, 6 Rbds).
Dragan Raca, gave the chance for all players, except to California Baptitst university’s player, Omar Krayem and Champville’s player Elie Stephan.

Egypt-Lebanon

In the last game, we missed Brian and Vroman, and it was a real catastrophe, not for the result, (71-54) but for the low level that we have showed, with the exception of the second quarter.
Quickly, the Egyptians, who are a mix team between veterans and youth players, dominate the first quarter, and finished it with 11 points deference, 19-8.

At the second quarter, Raca gave the chance for the reserve talent, Tolsa univerity’s player Bassel Bawji (19 years old), who really made a big turning point and led the team to bouncing back, by his excellent timing on rebound, offensively and defensively, and great scoring percentage, whether from inside or outside.

At the beginning of the second half, Raca took a strange decision and substituted Bassel and Ali Mahmoud, giving the leadership for Rony Fahed, who looks far away from his real performance. Once again Egypt dominated, and so fast created a gap of 17 points, while the Lebanese were totally absent, whether offensively and defensively.

The fourth quarter nothing change, the Lebanese supporters who accompanied our N.T in his three games, were disappointed although if it’s a preparations games, stopped shouting and encouraging, their players, and all the Raca’s substitutions were failed, and Lebanon faced the second defeat in this friendly tournament 71-54.