QAT - Almost 'go-time'

MANILA (FIBA Asia Championship/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - It's been several years since that fast start to the FIBA World Championship in Japan for Qatar.

In 2006, in Hamamatsu, Japan, where the Group C games were played, basketball fans will no doubt remember when Qatar, going up against the defending champions of Europe, Greece, stormed into a 28-12 lead by the end of the first quarter.

It proved to be nothing more than an early scare because the Greeks, who were coached by Panagiotis Giannakis at the time, went on a 24-3 run at the end of the first half and ended up winning, 84-64.

Qatar then lost the remainder of their games, and they haven't been a force on the Asian scene in the years to follow.

The team that is now led by veteran play-caller Tom Wisman has travelled to the Philippines, where the FIBA Asia Championship is to be staged.

FIBA's recent suspension of the Lebanese Basketball Federation has prevented their national side from playing in Manila and left Qatar with only Japan and Hong Kong in their group.

The Japanese recently lost all seven of their games in the William Jones Cup while Hong Kong are making their first appearance in a FIBA Asia Championship for several years.

Progression from the opening stage therefore looks a strong possibility for Qatar, yet confidence may not be high in the camp after a couple of beat-downs by Tunisia before the trip to Manila.

The African champions won their friendly encounters, 76-64 and 68-35, respectively.

"We didn't play well in the first game and the team suffered from a lot of shortcomings," said Wisman.

"To me, the results of these games aren't that important as I'm just trying out new permutations and combinations.

"We changed our tactics in the second game and it proved to be effective. The team performed much better. But we'll sit down and analyze where we went wrong.

"I should say I'm not too disappointed with the players' overall display."

FIBA