Lebanon beat Jordan to reach 2022 FIBA Asia Cup final

Lebanon’s basketball team on Saturday defeated Jordan 86-85 in a dramatic match to reach the final of the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup, where they will face Australia in Jakarta.

It is the first time that Lebanon has reached the final of this competition since 2007, according to FIBA.

Lebanon 🇱🇧 enter the #FIBAAsiaCup finals for the first time since 2007 after nipping Jordan down the stretch! The Cedars are now set to face Australia in the gold medal match. 👏@LBF_Basketball pic.twitter.com/a72HivRkhY

— FIBA Asia Cup (@FIBAAsiaCup) July 23, 2022

The two Arab countries have faced off eight times, with each side winning four matches, including Jordan’s win in the bronze medal match in 2009.

Australia defeated New Zealand 85-76 in the other semi-final to secure their spot in Sunday’s final at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Palace in the Indonesian capital.

The top scorer for Lebanon against Jordan was captain Wael Arakji with 25 points, followed by Sergio El-Darwich and Mohamed Haidar with eight points each.

Lebanon reached the last four after beating China 72-69 in the quarter-finals on Wednesday night, while Jordan had beaten Iran 91-76 earlier that day.

The Lebanese team finished top of Group D with a maximum of six points from three wins against New Zealand, the Philippines, and India.