Lebanon to get feet wet at Qatar training camp

BEIRUT (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers) - Lebanon plan to have a strong showing in the second Asian Qualifiers window, and it all begins with their training camp next month.

The Cedars are set to fly to Qatar and jumpstart their second window campaign with a seven-day training camp from 13-19 February, which features three tune-up games against GCC champions Qatar.

"The training camp in Qatar is important for us before our Qualifiers game against Syria," said newly appointed head coach Patrick Saba.

Saba knows it is of utmost importance for Lebanon to do better in the second window, especially after their unexpected loss to Jordan last November and their failure to finish on the podium at the FIBA Asia Cup 2017. The Cedars cannot afford to look past any of their opponents in Group C, including upstarts Syria, who are looking for a resurgence in their basketball program.

"The failure at FIBA Asia Cup 2017 despite having fantastic players was connected to reasons related to the system and discipline," Saba explained. "Ramunas is a coach with a fantastic CV but needed time to adapt with the mentality of the Lebanese player."

Saba hopes that his own understanding of the Lebanese players' mentality will help push the Cedars to greater heights in the second window, where they are set to face Syria on 23 February before taking on India on 26 February.

FIBA