Kakhia hopes Lebanon can take advantage of fair draw for FIBA Asia Cup
BEIRUT (FIBA Asia Cup 2017) - When the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 draw took place last week, more than a few were surprised at Lebanon's choice to be grouped with Kazakhstan, Korea and New Zealand.
BEIRUT (FIBA Asia Cup 2017) - When the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 draw took place last week, more than a few were surprised at Lebanon's choice to be grouped with Kazakhstan, Korea and New Zealand. Pierre Kakhia - Head of the Lebanese Basketball Federation - however, was pleased with the result.
"Well, I am satisfied," he said. "It is a fair draw."
For Kakhia, Lebanon had to put themselves in a position where they had a strong chance to go as far as they can in the tournament, and that meant avoiding Australia and New Zealand in the crucial Quarter-Final round even if it meant meeting one or both of those teams early on in the competition.
"We chose group C to get a better way and to avoid some stronger teams in the Quarter-Final round," he explained.
Since the Cedars will play in front of their passionate home crowd and hosting the continental tournament for the first time ever, Kakhia is aiming for nothing less than the championship.
"Our target is to perform well with a big hope to win the championship."Pierre Kakhia
For that to happen, the Lebanese will need to bring out the big guns, which is to say they will have to be represented by nothing short of their best players. A couple of those - rising star Wael Arakji and legend Fadi El Khatib - are still recovering from wear and tear, but Kakhia is confident they will be ready when the FIBA Asia Cup kicks off.
"Fadi and Wael both will be ready for FIBA Asia Cup 2017," he declared.
The FIBA Asia Cup 2017 will be from 8-20 August, with the winner known as Asia's champion team and will enjoy four years' worth of bragging rights until the next FIBA Asia Cup, which will be in 2021.
FIBA