ZOUK MIKAEL (Lebanon) - Lebanon leaned on their veterans in the clutch to survive a hard-fighting UAE, 91-88, and ensure a triumphant homecoming to finish the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers Monday night.
Amir Saoud nailed the go-ahead runner to answer back Hamed Lateef's breakaway jam, before Gerard Hadidian struck the dagger with a triple for the 91-85 lead with 40.7 seconds left as the Cedars went on to avoid the upset - and, more importantly, sent their ever-supportive fans that filled the Nouhad Nawfal Stadium elated.
It was actually the national team's first game back on home soil since the opening window of the qualifying tournament back in February of last year, and the resolve they displayed down the stretch that led to the W sure was enough to bring smiles to a nation that has been braving through challenging times.
The Lebanese finished the Qualifiers with a pristine 6-0 record, becoming the third team after defending two-time champions Australia and Jordan to wrap their campaigns without a loss.
"I'm proud that we didn't give up even when things, sometimes, don't go well," offered head coach Miodrag Perisic after the game. "But they kept on fighting. They're fighters. But we must prepare ourselves much better."
Wael Arakji led Lebanon with a game-high 29 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the field alongside 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals as he once again dazzled much to the delight of the home fans.
Saoud finished with 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, with his last dime the most important as it was him who found Hadidian wide-open in the left corner for the booming trifecta that silenced their foes.
Hadidian hit a perfect 2-for-2 clip from deep and went to register 18 points and 7 rebounds. Center Ater Majok made his presence felt, too, as he came through with 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 blocks.
The Emiratis, on the other hand, leaned heavily on DeMarco Dickerson and rising star Hamed Lateef most especially in the endgame as they attempted to wield the upset ax on the 2022 Asia Cup runners-up.
Dickerson finished with 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. Lateef delivered 24 points and 11 assists, hardly dazed by the bright lights on his way to submitting arguably one of his finest performances in a UAE jersey.
Lateef was actually responsible for giving his team the lead, 85-84, with 1:56 to go, until Saoud came through with the crucial plays that shifted the momentum in Lebanon's favor as the visiting side slowly faded.
Mamadou Ndiaye had 14 points while Rashed Alzaabi added 10 points for UAE, who bowed out of the competition with a 1-5 record and will have to wait for four years for another crack at the Asia Cup.
FIBA