Nadim Issa the difference as Syria finish Window 1 strongly with win over UAE

DUBAI (United Arab Emirates) - Nadim Issa was the stabilizing presence Syria needed in the endgame to get past UAE, 78-63, for a strong finish to their Window 1 campaign in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers, Monday night at the Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Sports Hall.

The 33-year-old finished with a full line of 18 points on five triples, a rebound, an assist, a pair of steals, and a block as he came through with the biggest of plays down the stretch to ward off their foes, which got to within 10 thrice inside the last 5:38 after being down by 19.

Issa converted a three-point play with 2:56 remaining, and, moments later, willingly swung the ball to Bilal Atli for a corner triple to manufacture six points in a row and build a 73-57 lead with 1:16 left to play, which was more than enough to re-establish control on their way to the win.

Game heroes: Javion Blake top-scored in the triumph with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block. Majd Arbasha supplied 16 points, including a triple to finish the game.

Atli fell just short of a double-double as he collected 9 points and 9 rebounds, helping the Syrians come out with the W in the bag after falling short of upending Lebanon in Damascus the last time out, where they got to within just seven from 25 points down.

Turning point: Syria ended the game's first 10 minutes trailing by a solitary point but opened the second period with a 15-3 run behind Arbasha, Blake, and Atli to build a 31-20 lead approaching the midway mark of the quarter. They would remain ahead from that point on.

Stats don't lie: Syria have now chalked up their third win in as many games over UAE. They won their first two meetings in the FIBA Asia Cup 2011 in Wuhan, China.

They said: "I would like to dedicate this triumph to my players because they did such a great effort today. Secondly no less to my family especially my wife, she is my biggest supporter, I'm here because of her. lastly to to the Syrian basketball family, to the Syrian people. To our supporters. I hope they could celebrate this important triumph that put us on track to qualify for the Asia Cup 2025." - Facundo Petracci, Head Coach, Syria

"We have to give credit to the coaching staff to be able to build something in a very short period of time. We were getting better day by day. We were just focusing on this game because we knew this is what matters to us. About the game, I would say we studied the team well. We've been preparing for their key players, their system, how we should defend. We made a couple of mistakes but the most amazing part was that the team was able to keep it together - on the court and outside the court. Everybody was on one hand to deliver this win." - Nadim Issa, Syria

"I have to give full credit to my players because they fought, they gave everything. In sports, in basketball, one day you score, one day you miss. And this is the part of the sport ... but regardless of the figures and scouting, it's a long, long way in the Qualifiers. Full credit and full trust and full confidence to the players. All the outcome, the margin, what happened in the game, everything is on me. I'm here to just congratulate also my players." - Ben Slimane, Head Coach, UAE

FIBA