VALENCIA (Spain) - It's easy to see just how much it means to the Lebanon squad representing their country.
There was an outpouring of emotion at the final buzzer when their Semi-Finals spot was confirmed following a hard-fought triumph over Angola - who had given Group A winners Spain a much tougher test less than 24 hours earlier.
"We know what we're here for - just putting out the best image for Lebanon."
Lebanon endured a shooting slump in the third quarter as all the momentum appeared to be with their opponents. But they never gave in, and found a way in the fourth; making big shot after big shot after big shot.
Sergio El Darwich hit a couple of important threes, Omari Spellman re-found his early offensive spark and Karim Zeinoun came up with crucial scores including a pair of late free throws to ice the victory.
"This is what we came here for. We came to play our hearts out," commented Zeinoun. "It means everything for us, there was a lot of emotion in this game, and thankfully we came out with the win."
Lebanon were able to be spurred on by an impressive performance from Spellman with the big man finishing with a double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds
Zeinoun added: "We knew we were going to need him when it mattered, and he stepped up at the end. He's a big time player."
Spellman was Lebanon's leading player at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 with averages of 15.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, but without Wael Arakji at the OQT 2024 Spain this week, his role has become that much more important.
It's been a change of approach, and mindset for the former first-round NBA Draft pick, that his fuelling his desire to flourish with the national team.
"The way I’ve approached it this time around is nothing like I did last time. I’ve done it before, I’ve lost tons of weight, but now it’s about consistency and living like that.
"For myself, there was a lot of learning [at the World Cup]. Mentality-wise just knowing that I’m capable, but I would like to be better - getting myself in shape, being a better man and that’s what it taught me.
"Coming from where I've came from, my mistakes have been very public to the world, so to redeem myself and represent this country in the right way means a lot to me."
Lebanon gave France a serious test in Jakarta, Indonesia at the World Cup and must now take the confidence of their win over Angola into their Semi-Finals showdown with the Bahamas.
For Spellman, there is no other thought than winning.
"I never go into a basketball game thinking I'm going to lose. It's having the mindset of attacking the day and whatever is in front of you.
"The game with France let us know that we can play with anybody. We know that we can get it going. We just want to play as hard as we can, and see where we're at."
21-year-old forward Youssef Khayat netted 20 points against Spain to show there is a bright future ahead.
"We have to be fearless," he stated ahead of the tournament.
"We know we can cause some trouble, and you just have to give your all - no matter if you win or lose."
That's the overriding message for Lebanon - if they are fall to defeat, they'll be leaving everything they have on the court - or, win and they'll be one step closer to the Olympics.
FIBA