Half-Filipino in Lebanon quintet?

CHICAGO — A half-Filipino was recruited to play for the Lebanese national team at the World Basketball Championships in Indianapolis and will likely suit up at the 14th Asian Games in Busan on Sept. 29-Oct. 14.

Paul Joseph Khouri, 32, didn’t see action for second-place Lebanon at the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) Championships in Shanghai last year. The 6-10, 278-pound center could’ve surely helped out naturalized player Joe Vogel in battling Yao Ming, Bateer Mengke, and Wang Zhizhi under the boards. China beat Lebanon twice in the ABC tournament–87-76 in a riotous quarterfinal match and 97-63 in the finals.

George Harb, sales manager of Alpha 55’s parks and sports division in the United Arab Emirates, told The Star during a four-hour drive from here to Indianapolis the other day that Khouri’s mother is Filipina and father is Lebanese.

Harb, a Lebanese who has lived the last 10 years in Dubai but visits his parents in Beirut often, said Khouri used to be known as Paul Afeaki. He couldn’t explain the change in name. A source said Khouri may be part Tongan like Asi Taulava.

Khouri played at the University of Utah and was once an import in the Japanese league where Vogel also saw action. In a profile of the Lebanon team, Khouri was quoted as saying his greatest moment in basketball was making his Utah debut in the US NCAA in 1991 and his toughest matchup ever was former New York Knicks forward Larry Johnson.

Aside from Khouri, the others who didn’t play in Shanghai but are now in the national squad are veteran Elie McChantaf, Charles Bardawill, Canadian-Lebanese Roy Samaha, and Badr Makki. Stricken out were Moussa Moussa (now an assistant coach), Canadian-Lebanese Richard Hallet, Ali Awarke, and Abdo Chidiac. The holdovers are Fady El Khatib, Vogel, Rony Fahed, Ghazi El Boustani, Canadian-Lebanese Georges Chibani of St. Claire University, Walid El Domiati, and Yasser Ahman El Hage.

According to Harb, the Lebanese squad could’ve beaten China in at least a game in Shanghai if only McChantaf, who was injured, played. He described the 31-year-old star as a master of the game. "McChantaf is the king," said Harb. "He does it all–score, pass, rebound, play defense. He is our leader."

Harb said basketball is Lebanon’s No. 1 sport and the pro league made up of eight clubs plays two tournaments in a nine-month season. Each club is allowed to recruit three foreigners but only two may play at a time. Some of last season’s imports were Sherrel Ford, Ace Custis, Scotty Thurman, Johnny Rhodes, and Tony Madison. Harb said the presence of imports has improved the quality of Lebanese basketball. He added that coaches from the US, Yugoslavia, and Mexico are hired by clubs to upgrade the level of competition in the pro league.

In the Asian Games, Harb said Lebanon isn’t worried about the Philippines. He said Lebanon will be hard pressed against China and South Korea. "We can beat China maybe only once in five games but South Korea, thrice," mused Harb.

Harb said a 6-9 player who is Lebanese-American may be added to the roster for the Asian Games. He identified the possible recruit as Brian Beshara who failed to make the trip to Indianapolis because of a shoulder injury. Beshara played in the US NCAA like Vogel and Khouri.

Harb blamed China for triggering the free-for-all that marred the first game against Lebanon at the ABC tilt last year. He said Moussa sustained cuts on the arm from a scissors attack by Chinese enforcer Liu Yudong and Vogel suffered a gash on the head. Both players were rushed to the hospital and didn’t finish the contest.

Last July, Lebanon withdrew from the Arab championships after a brawl broke out during its quarterfinal match against Tunisia. Herb said Lebanese officials didn’t risk players getting injured for the World Championships and decided to pull out of the tournament.

Herb said Fady, 23, and Roni, 20,hold the future for Lebanese basketball. Both were recently invited to National Basketball Association training camps. He called Fady the next McChantaf and the star guard’s heir apparent. But the key to Lebanon’s attack is the 6-11, 255-pound Vogel, the Seattle SuperSonics second round draft pick in 1996 from Colorado State. Vogel, born in Nebraska, acquired Lebanese citizenship after marrying a local girl.