MANILA, Philippines - Over the last decade, Lebanon has displayed its firepower in the FIBA-Asia Championship or even in the world stage.
But in this year’s staging of the prestigious event, the Lebanese are completely out of the picture.
Lebanon was supposed to host the 27th FIBA-Asia edition but because of the conflict in the Middle East the right to host it was handed to the Philippines.
To make matters worse, FIBA just handed down an indefinite suspension on Lebanon for its failure to resolve the conflict within its national basketball organization.
Hagop Khajirian, the FIBA-Asia secretary-general, is from Lebanon.
But he said the other day during a press conference at the Mall of Asia Arena that there’s nothing much he can do.
“I would like to have Lebanon here as we are one of the powerhouse (teams) in basketball in Asia,†said the respected FIBA official.
“Lebanon has represented Asia so many times in world-level championships before,†he added.
In the FIBA-Asia Championship alone, Lebanon has had some great moments even without winning the title. It finished second behind China in 2001 and 2005 and behind Iran in 2007.
Lebanon was third in 2003 and 2009 but failed to land in the podium in 2011.
It’s been to the World Championship three times – in 2002, 2006 and 2010. It was in 2006 in Japan where Fadi El Khatib and company pulled off a stunning win over France.
In short, the absence of the Lebanese squad in this event gives the others vying for three slots to the 2014 World Championship in Spain some breathing room.
Khajirian can only wish all the countries the best.
“I think all the teams we have here are the best ambassadors for Asian basketball when they represent us in the world level next year,†he said.
He can’t even pick a favorite.
“Actually all the teams here are my teams. I’m the secretary-general of FIBA-Asia so these are all my teams,†said Khajirian.
He can only sit back, relax and enjoy the games.
Khajirian is rooting for no one.