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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Jordan still hopeful of Olympic berth as Japan becomes best-placed Asian team in FIBA World Cup after pool play

Jordan still hopeful of Olympic berth as Japan becomes best-placed Asian team in FIBA World Cup after pool play

Published Aug 30, 2023 03:35 pm

At A Glance

  • Jordan is optimistic of pulling off a surprise in the classification round of the 2023 FIBA World Cup as it hopes to become the best-placed Asian team and earn an outright berth to the Olympics next year. 

Jordan is optimistic of pulling off a surprise in the classification round of the 2023 FIBA World Cup as it hopes to become the best-placed Asian team and earn an outright berth to the Olympics next year. 

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Jordan's Malek Kanaan handles the ball during match against USA on Wednesday, Aug. 30. (Mark Balmores/MB)

The Jordanians were running second with two losses in the unofficial rankings that they owed to their score differential behind Japan, which pulled off a convincing 98-88 upset over Finland and became the lone Asian team with a World Cup win after the pool play. 

However, things took a turn for the worst when Jordan faced Team USA and suffered a 110-62 beating in Group C to end its group stage campaign, suddenly sinking them at the fourth spot. 

With the probability stacked against the Rondae Hollis-Jefferson-led Jordan, head coach Wesam Al-sous refused to leave the tournament with regret.

“We do believe that Japan is one step ahead of us, for sure. But what we need to do is, do our jobs, we need to try to win both games and then when Japan wins the two games in the second round, we’re gonna say “congrats, have fun in the Olympics”,” said Jordan head coach Wesam Al-sous. 

“I don’t want to regret that when Japan [loses a game] and then we don’t do our job, we only blame ourselves. So because of that, we'll definitely come up and we’re gonna fight to win both games,” he added. 

Jordan is no joke either, with Jefferson carrying the team to unbelievable fightbacks. 

The two-time World Cup participant is set to take on an inspired Egypt side, which has just won its first World Cup game since 1994, on Thursday, Aug. 31, to resume its bid for an Olympic spot. 

Related Tags

2023 FIBA World Cup
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