By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Australian men’s national basketball team continued its dominance in Asia and reigned supreme during the recently concluded 2022 FIBA Asia Cup with a win over Lebanon, 75-73.
Despite building its largest lead to 16 points, the mighty Lebanon team made a rousing comeback in the second half led by mythical member Wael Arakji.
Arakji caught fire in the final canto and poured 15 of his 28 total points to put a huge scare on the star-studded Australian team.
With 5.3 seconds left, Arakji gave Lebanon a fighting chance after scoring a tough layup over the outstretched arms of the Australians to make it a one-point game, 74-73.
Lebanon then fouled Australia’s Rhys Vague but split his shots at the charity stripe which gave enough time for the Lebanese to set up their attack.
Ali Haidar then rushed to the opposite side of the court, threw his hail-mary heave just in time, but failed to deliver the long-range stunner that capped off their stellar FIBA Asia Cup campaign.
It was Australia who led most of the game with Lebanon playing catch-up led by former NBA player Thon Maker who imposed his will underneath on his way to 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and two steals.
Lebanon’s salty shooting and turnovers cost them a lot in the first half, allowing the Australians to pound them in the paint while finding open shooters in the corner every time they drove and kick.
Mitch McCarron also played one of his best games in the tournament for Australia and backstopped Maker with 12 points, five assists, four rebounds, and four steals.
With the win, the Australian national team is now back-to-back champions after clinching the gold medal during the 2017 edition of the FIBA Asia Cup.
Meanwhile, Lebanon had their highest placing in the FIBA Asia Cup after 15 long years since falling to Iran in the gold medal match last 2007.
