Saturday, July 30, 2011
LIB - No Fadi for Wuhan, it doesn’t matter says Sarkis
Saturday, July 30, 2011 | 
Posted by
zilljanmark
Posted by
zilljanmark
BEIRUT, Lebanon (26th FIBA Asia Championship): Lebanon, in all probability, will have to do without the services of their talismanic star Fadi El Khatib at the Sept 15-25 26th FIBA Asia Championship
at Wuhan (China) and Lebanese NT coach Ghassan Sarkis went on to term
the superstar’s absence “as a prospective blessing in disguise.”
Talking
to this website on return from the King Abdullah tournament in Jordan,
Sarkis told this website: “Fadi and I had a long discussion yesterday.”
“He
is willing to reconsider his decision to retire from international
basketball in the interest of the National Team. But he has sought a
leave of absence from participating in the 26th FIBA Asia Championship,” said Sarkis.
“Of
course his absence will be felt immensely in terms of the team’s
winnability factor. But then if you look at the long-term interest of
Lebanese basketball his absence may prove a blessing in disguise,”
Sarkis said.
“Right now we are preparing for the 26th FIBA Asia Championship
with a team of young players, who spent a lot of time on the bench of
the previous National Teams. They are all hungry and craving to prove a
point. Their character and commitment was evident in ample measure at
Jordan (in the King Abdullah tournament) recently. That bodes well for
the future,” the seasoned coach added.
“Now
where Fadi’s absence will help is in identifying newer leaders for the
National Team. After all, Fadi has to retire someday. All great players
do. But then that should not leave a vacuum that will be difficult to
fill. Which is why I think it might prove a blessing in disguise in the
long-term interest of Lebanese basketball,” Sarkis said.
Lebanon, who qualified for the 26th FIBA Asia Championship directly by virtue of winning the title in the 3rd FIBA Asia Stankovic Cup last year, were drawn in Group A along with East Asia Champions Korea, SAARC champions India and SEABA’s Malaysia.
Should
Lebanon, as expected, advance to the second round, they will match wits
with the three teams from Group B – comprising twice defending
champions Iran, GCC champions Qatar, tricky East Asia rivals Chinese
Taipei and the qualifier from the “Stan” division of the Middle Asia.
source: FIBA Asia
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