Jordan become a factor again

BELGRADE (2015 FIBA Asia Championship) - There was an unmistakable, optimistic tone heard in the voice of Jordan coach Rajko Toroman this week as he looked ahead to the WABA Championship.

Jordan are hosting the qualifying event which runs from 29 May-3 June, with Lebanon, Iran, Palestine and Yemen also taking part.

The WABA Championship is a qualifying tournament for the FIBA Asia Championship.

Now in his second year at the helm, Toroman has a stronger team and brighter prospects than one year ago when Jordan played at the FIBA Asia Cup and came in fifth.

I think we made the right choice when we got this player [Legion] with a view to his naturalization. - Toroman

For starters, he is preparing to unleash Alex Legion, a naturalized player from the United States, on the WABA Championship field.

Toroman has had Legion on the court in friendly games in the coach's native Serbia, where he has taken the team on tour.

"Alex has played a few games with us," Toroman said to FIBA.com.

"He's a very talented player and suits us perfectly."

Legion, who hails from the United States, spent this past season in Italy's Serie A2 league with Pallacanestro Trapani.

He was the second leading scorer in the league.

In three of Trapani's last six games, Legion poured in 30 points or more.

Remembering that another American guard, Rasheim Wright, wore the Jordan shirt and led the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship in scoring, the naturalized spot is a very important one to be filled.

Another cause for Toroman's upbeat mood is two famous players of past teams have strongly indicated they will represent Jordan if the country qualifies for the FIBA Asia Championship, which is to be held in Changsha-Hunan, China (23 September-3 October).

Zaid Abbas and Sam Daghles, leaders of the side that clinched third place at the 2009 edition of the continental event and qualified for the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup, look good bets to be in China.

"They will not play WABA but I think 90 percent is the chance they will play in China if we qualify," Toroman said.

Another player that should make a big difference for the national team this summer is Ahmad Al-Dwairi, one of the rising stars of Jordanian basketball who has spent this season at Anadolu Efes under the watchful eye of Toroman's good friend and legendary coach Dusan Ivkovic.

Al-Dwairi was very effective at the FIBA Asia Cup last year, especially in the team's 71-70 defeat to the Philippines.

The center had 13 points and 14 rebounds in that contest.

"With these guys, we'll have a chance to be very competitive," Toroman said.

Overall, the tour to Serbia has been good, with four wins from five games.

Results, even in friendly games, can be important for a young team.

Jordan do have the experience hands of Wessam Al-Sous and Mousa Alawadi, players that played big minutes for the national team in previous years.

Jordan squad on tour of Serbia: Mohammad Abdeen, Amen Abu Hawwas, Yousef Abu Wazneh, Ahmad Al-Dwairi, Mousa Alawadi, Hani Al-Faraj, Wessam Al-Sous, Fakhri Al-Syouri, Yazan Al-Taweel, Ahmad Hamarsheh, Ali Jamal, Malek Kana an, Ahmad Nofal, Ahmad Obeid, Mohammad Shaher.  

FIBA