BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Three teams will duke it out to follow Lebanon as one of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 entrants via Group F in Window 3 of the Qualifiers this week.
Group B
# | TEAM | GP | W | L | % | For | AGT | +/- | FA | AA |
|
1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 100.0 | 369 | 282 | 87 | 92.3 | 70.5 | 8 | |
2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50.0 | 286 | 319 | -33 | 71.5 | 79.8 | 6 | |
3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 25.0 | 291 | 315 | -24 | 72.8 | 78.8 | 5 | |
4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 25.0 | 294 | 324 | -30 | 73.5 | 81.0 | 5 |
February 21
Bahrain versus Lebanon - 07:00 PM (GMT+3) - Manama (BRN) Syria versus UAE - 07:00 PM (GMT+3) - Doha (QAT)
February 24
Lebanon versus UAE - 09:00 PM (GMT+2) - Zouk Mikael (LBN) Syria versus Bahrain - 10:00 PM (GMT+3) - Doha (QAT)
Bahrain, Syria, and UAE all have a chance to secure the second qualifying berth from the pool, but only one of them can prevail and accomplish as much.
As it stands, the Bahrainis are sitting behind the unbeaten Cedars with an even 2-2 record, and would want a sweep of their two assignments to boost their bid.
Standing in their way right in their first game of the upcoming window, however, are the 2022 Asia Cup runners-up, a team that's toting a clean 4-0 slate and will definitely look to finish the Qualifiers even though they're already Jeddah-bound.
The edge is on the wards of Coach Miodrag Perisic as well, having beaten Bahrain in their first encounter back in the opening window - a 94-63 rout.
But it's not only that game which fans and pundits should look forward to on February 21. There's also the tussle between Syria and UAE to be played in Qatar, which will be a tie-breaking affair as both squads sport identical 1-3 records.
The Syrians' lone victory thus far actually came at the expense of their Emirati counterparts, a 78-63 result at the latter's own stomping grounds in Dubai.
Definitely, they want to complete the two-game sweep, but it may be easier said than done. UAE are coming into Window 3 in high spirits following a successful end to their Window 2 campaign as they stunned Bahrain, 90-77, for win no. 1.
But more than these crucial games, what makes this window all the more exciting is that Lebanon will see action on home soil for the first time in a year.
Still picking themselves up from the difficult situation that had tested the resilient nation, Wael Arakji & Co. will finally play in front of their ever-supportive compatriots when they host UAE at the Stade Nouhad Naufal in Zouk Mikael.
It would be their first game in their own turf since that aforementioned win against Bahrain, and so it should be a packed venue in their homecoming of sorts.
FIBA