Matic prepares Lebanon for WABA

Ali Mahmoud

Lebanon have one thing in mind and one thing only heading into this week's WABA Championship (29 May-2 June) in Amman, Jordan. They want to punch their ticket to the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship, which is to be staged in Changsha-Hunan, China, from 23 September to 3 October. To meet that aim and claim one of three spots up for grabs, and without the benefit of much preparation time, national team coach Veselin Matic (agency: Interperformances ) is going to use Lebanon-based Jasmon Youngblood (195-SG-84, college: Kent St.) as the naturalized player in his squad. A 31-year-old shooting guard with plenty of experience in the country's basketball league, Jasmon Youngblood was among the league leading scorers at more than 23 points per game this season and helped Byblos team coached by former New Zealand Tall Blacks coach Nenad Vucinic reach the playoff finals. Lebanon had hoped to add big man like Julian Khazzouh of Lebanese side Sagesse, but he left the club right before the beginning of the playoffs. 'I think that Jasmon Youngblood showed that as the top scorer and leader at the same time he can help us be strong on both defense and offense,' Matic said to arabasket.com. 'Our goal is basically to make sure we qualify to the Asian Championship as a first step.' Taking part in WABA with Lebanon are hosts Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Iraq. The final squad of the Cedars: Fadi El Khatib, Ali Mahmoud (184-PG-83), Wael Arakji, Nadim Souaid, Jean Abdelnour, Elie Rustom, Amir Saoud, Jay Jasmon Youngblood, Bassel Bawji, Nadim Hawi, Joe Abi Khers and Charles Tabet.
Courtesy of: arabasket.com