The Lebanese national basketball team secured a valuable 93–74 victory over South Korea in its opening game of “Window 4” of the Men’s World Cup qualifiers.
The game took place Thursday evening at the Nihad Nofal Complex in Zouk Mikael. The match was
part of Group 6, which also includes China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
With this victory, Lebanon raised its point total to 13 after securing its sixth win in the qualifiers.
It also maintained its lead in Group 6 and moved one step closer to qualifying for the 2027 Basketball World Cup in Qatar.
The game was attended by approximately 8,000 spectators. Among those in attendance were President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun,
Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Nora Bayrakdarian, and President of the Lebanese Basketball Federation Akram Halabi.
Also in attendance were Asian Basketball Federation Secretary-General Hagop Khacharian and a number of officials, sports figures, and diplomats.
South Korea Takes an Early Lead
The Lebanese national basketball team started the game with a lineup featuring Sergio Darwish, Ali Mezher, Haik Kiokjian, Youssef Khayyat, and Derek Van der Berg.
Meanwhile, Wael Arakji, Ali Mansour, and Jihad Al-Khatib were absent due to injury.
Lebanon came out strong, with Sergio Darwish opening the scoring with a three-pointer. However, the South Korean team quickly regained its footing,
exploiting gaps in the defense and scoring from beyond the arc.
As a result, South Korea ended the first quarter with a 24–18 lead.
In the second quarter, Lebanon narrowed the gap to 24–22. However, the South Korean team came back and widened the lead once again.
Nevertheless, the Lebanese players maintained their offensive and defensive pressure, buoyed by the enthusiastic crowd support. The first half ended with South Korea leading 41–38.
Lebanon Turns the Tide in the Third Quarter
The Cedars’ performance changed at the start of the third quarter. Lebanon quickly managed to close the gap before tying the score at 41–41.
Although South Korea took the lead again, Coach Ahmad Frang’s players continued to apply intense pressure. As the minutes passed, their defensive performance improved, and their offensive effectiveness increased.
Lebanon took the lead for the first time at 56–55.
After that, the team capitalized on the tremendous enthusiasm in the stands and dictated the pace of the game. They ended the third quarter leading 63–60.
Lebanon Seals the Victory
The Lebanese national basketball team continued its dominance in the fourth quarter, extending the lead to 66–60.
The Korean team tried to get back into the game, but the Lebanese players remained focused.
Omar Jamal al-Din also shone, hitting two crucial three-pointers to extend Lebanon’s lead to 72–66.
After that, the Cedars continued to score, and the lead gradually widened to more than ten points.
The Korean coach was forced to call two timeouts to stem Lebanon’s momentum.
But the Lebanese team maintained its rhythm, extending the lead to 85–70.
In the final minutes, Lebanon exerted complete control over the game. In the end, they sealed the victory with a score of 93–74, securing an important win on their path to the World Cup.
Youssef Khayyat Leads Lebanon in Scoring
Youssef Khayyat shone for the Lebanese national team, finishing the game as the top scorer with 21 points.
Sergio Darwish also scored 17 points, while Omar Jamal al-Din added 16 points.
In the other Group 6 games, China defeated Qatar 83–57. Japan also defeated Saudi Arabia 106–78.
Lebanon Prepares to Face China
The Lebanese national basketball team will play its second game of the fourth window against China at 2:30 p.m. next Monday, Beirut time.
The victory over South Korea gives the Cedars a major morale boost ahead of the upcoming matchup.
It also strengthens Lebanon’s position at the top of the group and brings it closer to securing a spot in the 2027 Basketball World Cup.
Following this major victory, the dream of the World Cup is closer than ever, as the Lebanese national team continues its steady march toward achieving its goal.
