Lebanon suspended, will miss FIBA-Asia Championship

13 July 2013 at 6:01 am

TOKUSHIMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 04: Fadi ElKhatib of Lebanon shoots against Ha Seung-Jin of South Korea during the 2007 FIBA Asia Championship semi final round game at Asty Tokushima on August 04, 2007 in Tokushima, Japan. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)

Due to the escalating trouble between local clubs and its cage federation, Lebanon has been banned by the International Basketball Federation Friday from participating in any FIBA-sanctioned event, thus preventing the Middle East side from joining next month’s FIBA-Asia cage championships in Manila.

Taking over the spot of Lebanon in Group B is Iraq, according to a report by The Daily Star, a Lebanon-based newspaper.

Without Lebanon, considered one of the continent’s potent teams, the road to one of the three tickets for next year’s World Basketball Championships in Spain has become a little easier for the other contenders, notably the Philippines.

Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes, however, is not thinking too far ahead.

“Not too worried about Lebanon's suspension coz we're too focused on ourselves 1st,” posted Reyes on his official Twitter account (@coachot), moments after the Nationals repeated over the Hawkes Bay Hawks in Napier, New Zealand.

Reyes also added Iraq, which will join with Qatar, Japan and Hong Kong in Group B, “is a tall, tough team we know very little of.”