Lebanon's Ibrahim: "It gives you goosebumps when you play in your home country"

BEIRUT (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asia Qualifiers) - No one should be surprised that Ahmad Ibrahim found his way into the Lebanon national team for this month's World Cup Qualifiers.

A huge talent, Ibrahim is 25 and has played for the national team before, at the FIBA Asia Cup 2015 in China. He is also on the books of Lebanese league leaders Champville and proving week in and week out that he's a player that knows how to win.

Perhaps what makes him a perfect fit for the Ramunas Butautas-coached Cedars, though, is his motor. It's always running full throttle and for Lithuanian Butautas, a player always have to have a motor that's running hot. Ibrahim's was, especially against India, when he repeatedly hustled down the floor on fast breaks and got his team easy points.

"I like to take risks," Ibrahim said to FIBA.basketball. "Half-court is nice, but if you can get an easy basket, then why not?"

Bearing in mind that Lebanon have a point guard who loves to run himself in Wael Arakji, Ibrahim knows that if puts the pressure on the opposing defense by moving at full gait, he's more than likely going to have the ball throw in his direction.

"Wael pushes the ball a lot," Ibrahim said. "It's good to play with him. Whoever pushes it, it's good to play with. And the coach wants us to push the ball. He doesn't mind at all."

When the India game was over, Ibrahim grinned ear to ear. He'd beaten the defense down the floor on occasion and gotten some easy buckets. The 25-year-old, who also drilled a couple of 3-balls, finished with a game-high 22 points. A 2.01m (6ft 6in) small forward, Ibrahim also had 10 rebounds, making him the Cedars' only player with a double-double.

Lebanon followed up the 107-72 beat-down of India, however, with a frustrating 87-83 defeat in Amman to Jordan.

We lost a Jordan game that we should not have lost, but I think we can get them back when we play in Lebanon, that's for sure.IbrahimIbrahim

Jordan served notice that getting to the World Cup is not a foregone conclusion. There are going to be some big games that Lebanon must win if they are going to be among the 32 sides at the World Cu in China in 2019. 

"It's not going to be easy at all," Ibrahim said. "Every team is coming to win every game. We lost a Jordan game that we should not have lost, but I think we can get them back when we play in Lebanon, that's for sure."

The loss to Jordan had a little extra sting for Lebanon, Ibrahim said.

"Because we live close by, everyone wants to show who is the best around this region," he said. "They got the best of us over there and hopefully we'll get them back when they come over (June 28, 2018).

Ibrahim and Lebanon fell in their second game at Jordan.

"You can't slip. You have to bring your A game every game or everyone will take advantage, like Jordan did. You can't take any opponent lightly and you have to play hard every possession, every game, to make this dream come true, to get to the World Cup."

On balance, the November window for the World Cup Qualifiers was a very good experience for Ibrahim. He loves wearing the national team shirt.

"It gets your confidence up, it's a push for me, so I can step my game up in the Lebanese league for sure with Champville," he said.

And he liked playing for Butautas.

"Coach is a really nice guy, a good guy," he said. "I like to play for him. He lets you play."

The fans loved it because they can see us. They like it more. In the summer, a lot of people are traveling but when you have the game during the year, it gives a nice taste.IbrahimIbrahim

Ibrahim says he not only enjoyed playing for his country because of the pride that it brings, but also because of what it means to the Lebanese people.

"Everybody loves basketball no matter what age they are, from grandparents to babies so everyone was expecting us to put on a good show," he said. "It's good to be in the number one sport in the country.

"For the fans, Lebanon is the most important team. It's like going to war. It's that one small country going against anyone. It's a different feeling."

It was also special, he said, because the game was playing in November. He likes the idea of games being staged at different times of the year.

"The fans loved it because they can see us," he said. "They like it more. In the summer, a lot of people are traveling but when you have the game during the year, it gives a nice taste."

While Ibrahim did not play for Butautas this summer when Lebanon hosted the Asia Cup and did not see firsthand the dominance of Australia, he knows that getting to the top on the continent is now harder than it used to be. 

"Australia, especially, if they bring their 'A' team, they're unbeatable in Asia," he said. "But I think it's really good, it raises the bar high and you want to work harder and maybe you can beat them one day. It's good for the level of Asia."

Ibrahim is already thinking about the February window, when Lebanon will take on Syria and India. He wants to put on the national team jersey again whenever possible.

"Hopefully I'll be there but it's Lebanon," he said. "You never know what will happen."

FIBA