Wael Arakji is a beast and a workhorse.
On the night when Lebanon faced France in their last Group H match at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, the reigning best point guard in Asia rested for just under three minutes and played the entire second half.
The tireless Lebanese star led his team to a narrow 69-68 lead heading into the final period. However, the Cedars stumbled in the closing moments of the match, resulting in an 85-79 loss.
Arakji dedicated his performance to his fellow countrymen back home, brimming with Lebanese pride after a commendable showing against the fifth-ranked team in the world.
(C) FIBA.basketball
“With all that’s happening in Lebanon, we just want to be the hope. I hope we are the reason behind a lot of smiles in Lebanon. Just showing the kids that they should never give up,” the 28-year-old Lebanese superstar said.
“Playing for Lebanon is the greatest feeling for me. I’ve envisioned such moments since I was young. I just wanna all these kids back in Lebanon proud.”
The 6-foot-4 guard shouldered the offensive burden for Lebanon, putting up 29 points on 11-of-17 shooting, in addition to contributing three rebounds and four assists.
However, Arakji lamented his team’s lack of experience in the endgame, which ultimately resulted in their third loss in the ongoing World Cup.
“It was very unfortunate that we lost. We had a chance to beat a very tough team,” he said on their failed upset of the reigning World Cup bronze medalists.
“I thought we had them for a second but they just have so much experience and they knew how to finish the game.”
Still, the Olympic hopes of the Cedars are still alive. And they hope that their brave stand against the Les Blues will spark their turnaround when they face Iran and either Ivory Coast or Brazil in the classifications.
