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Riyadi lost the match for third place to the Australian team “Tasmania JackJumpers” by a score of 75-80, ending their continental campaign in fourth place behind the world’s basketball giants.
Key absences
Ali Mansour, injured, and Travis Thibodeaux, replaced by veteran Ismail Ahmad, missed the game.
Wael Arakji was also absent for most of the first half, the medical staff not allowing him to play for long after the injury he sustained in the first game against Unicaja Malaga (Spain).
These absences did not affect Riyadi, who put in an excellent first half, managing to hold off the Australian champions. The Australian team led at the break by seven points, 37-32.
The Joker Hayk
After his solid performances in the previous two games, Hayk Gyokchyan continued his fine form, scoring 19 points, grabbing 8 rebounds and dishing out 6 assists. He left his mark on the match, keeping Riyadi in the game.
The yellow team even took the lead at the end of the third quarter, which Karim Zeinoun concluded with a decisive three-point shot, bringing the score to 58-51.
In the final quarter, Riyadi tried to maintain their lead against an Australian team that was solid in both attack and defense.
The two teams exchanged the lead on several occasions. Riyadi came very close to victory, with the game ending 80-75.
With this result, Riyadi concludes its first-ever continental participation in fourth place, marking a new achievement for Lebanese basketball, which is now asserting itself on the world stage.
