Jordan is leaving no stone unturned in its bid for Asian Games redemption by bringing in a pair of reinforcements for the fast-approaching quadrennial tilt.
With Rondae Hollis-Jefferson still working his way back from an Achilles injury, the Falcons have called back Dar Tucker and signed Perrin Buford as the West Asian side announced the 12-man lineup tasked to exorcise the ghost of 2023.
It could be recalled that the Jordanians were just one win away from taking home a breakthrough gold medal in the 19th edition of the prestigious continental conclave in China, only for the Philippines to steal their thunder.
The crew lost to the very same team they actually beat during the group stage, with Gilas finding the perfect opportunity to get back en route to ending the country’s 61-year wait for an Asiad men’s basketball championship.
Still, Jordan took home its first-ever Asian Games silver after two bronze finishes in the past, with Hollis-Jefferson playing a major role in that run alongside 6-11 big man John Bohannon, who’s also a naturalized player.
Now, the Falcons are hoping that having two reinforcements once more would lead to a better result this time with the seasoned Tucker plus Buford, who became known in West Asia for his stint with Al Riyadi in the FIBA WASL.
Once eyed by a PBA team for the Governors’ Cup, the 32-year-old winger from Alabama most recently played for Pelita Jaya in the Indonesia Basketball League, and is now bound for his first taste of national team action.
But familiarity shouldn’t be an issue, with new head coach Luis Guil utilizing basically the same team he ran with during Window 4 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers at the SM Mall of Asia Arena last week.
Completing the lineup are Ahmad Alhamarsheh, Mohammad Hussein, Ahmad Al Dwairi, Freddy Ibrahim, Amin Abu Hawwas, Abdullah Olajuwon, Rawhi Kilani,Yazan Altaweel, Malek Kanaan, and Yousef Abuwazaneh.
The quintet of Alhamarsheh, Hussen, Al Dwairi, Ibrahim, and Kanaan formed part of the Jordan team that competed in Hangzhou three years ago.
The Falcons have been drawn in Group B of the upcoming Asian Games, together with Iran, Chinese Taipei, and 2027 World Cup host Qatar.
