- 13:05
In Ulaanbaatar, the young Lebanese fought hard against the Australian giants but lost (73-61) in a close game. Despite this setback, their hopes of qualifying remain intact for the rest of the FIBA U16 Asia Cup 2025.
The FIBA U16 Asia Cup 2025 continues at a rapid pace at the Buyant Ukhaa Sports Complex in Ulaanbaatar. This edition brings together the elite of Asian basketball and has already delivered its share of surprises and intense duels. In Group A, Australia, the defending champion seeking a fourth consecutive title, continued its flawless run with a third straight victory.
The Lebanese, meanwhile, put up a courageous fight against the continent's best team. After dominating India and then conceding a narrow defeat to Bahrain, they faced a real Everest: the Australian Crocs, who had been unbeatable so far, with an average of 136 points scored in their first two games.
An Intense Match Right Up to the Final Minutes
Lebanon started at full throttle, surprising Australia with their defensive intensity and mobility. Led by Charbel El Herera and Johnny Sawma, the young Lebanese held their own against the defending champions for a long time, coming back to within one possession with four minutes to go (62-59).
But experience prevailed in crunch time. Tom Dammers, with a killer three-pointer, gave the Crocs some breathing room, before Alex Edwards and Isaiah Jorgenson killed the suspense with a final 8-0 run.
“We gave it our all. I'm proud of the boys, proud of the way they stepped up against the best. This team has heart and talent, the future is bright,” said the Lebanese coach after the game.
The Lebanese Shine Despite Defeat
Despite the final score, Lebanon can be truly satisfied. Johnny Sawma, impressive as ever, scored 22 points and grabbed 5 rebounds, confirming his status as offensive leader. Charbel El Herera added 14 points, while the team showed real progress in managing key moments.
With this setback, Lebanon finishes third in Group A (1-2), behind Australia (3-0) and Bahrain, which secured second place by crushing India (111-80) thanks to a spectacular performance by Hassan Abdulkadir (31 points, 21 rebounds) and Somto Patrick (30 points, 18 rebounds).
And Now, It's Time for the Qualifiers
Lebanon will now play for survival in the competition in the Qualification Game scheduled for September 4 against the second-place team in Group C. If they win, the Lebanese will advance to the quarterfinals on September 5 and may face... Bahrain for a rematch that promises to be heated.
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