Lebanon's basketball team's success story despite economic turmoil

Basketball is one of the most popular sports in Lebanon, the Lebanese Basketball Federation is a member of the Asian Basketball Confederation and the International Basketball Federation, and it is also a member of the Arab Basketball Federation. The Lebanese national team has achieved impressive results in recent years at the Arab and Asian levels. In this article, we explain the story of this team and its successes, despite the difficulties that Lebanon is experiencing.

History of Basketball in Lebanon:

The first time I played basketball in Lebanon was in the mid-twenties of the last century. But achievements have been delayed until recently. Lebanon's national basketball team qualified three times in a row for the FIBA World Championship in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2023. It is ranked 24th in the world. The women's national team is ranked 61st in the world and currently plays in the first tier of the Asian Women's Basketball Championship. Lebanon's national under-19 national team participated in the 2007 FIBA World U-19 Championship where it finished fourteenth.

Lebanese Basketball League:

The Lebanese Basketball League is called the Alpha League. There are 12 teams in the league, played in a two-stage league system; each team plays against all other teams once at home (first leg) and once away (second leg). At the end of the season, the top eight teams enter the playoffs, play a series of 3 quarter-finals, and adopt the advantage of two games out of 3. The winners of the quarter-finals advance to a series of 5 semi-final matches with a 3-match advantage of 5. The two qualified teams play a seven-match streak in the final, and the winner of four matches is crowned league champions. On the other hand, the team that finishes the season in last place is relegated to the second division, while the best teams in the second division compete in the play-off system, and the winning team is promoted to the alpha league the following season.

The first Lebanese basketball championship was established in the fifties of the last century, but it was interrupted during the Lebanese civil war. In 1992, the league was reorganized to its current professional form in full. The Golden Age began shortly after the start of the new league in the nineties of the last century. In 1996, Al-Hikma Club was runner-up to the Arab Championship. In 1998, Al-Riyadi Club finished third in the Asian Basketball Champions Cup, and in the same year Beirut hosted the Arab Club Championship where the championship was won by Al-Hikma Club, the first Arab Basketball Cup for Lebanon. In 1999, Beirut hosted the Arab Club Championship as well, and Hikma was crowned champion again, in addition to being the first Lebanese team and the first Arab team to win the Asian Cup. Al-Riyadi achieved his greatest success in the Arab Club Championship, where he won the title in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010. In the Asian championships, Al-Hikma and Al-Riyadi are the two teams with three titles each in the Asian Basketball Club Championship. Since then, several Lebanese clubs have seen regular success in various international tournaments.

The most successful Lebanese basketball clubs are Riyadi Beirut and Hikmeh, both of whom have won the most championships in the Lebanese Basketball League, as well as the Arab Club Championship, the West Asian Champions Cup and the Asian Basketball Champions Cup. The most successful club is Antranik Women's Club, which has won the Lebanese Basketball League, the Arab Women's Basketball Club Championship and the West Asian Champions Cup.

The Role of the Lebanese Diaspora and International Support:

The global Lebanese diaspora, estimated at 8 million to 14 million people, played a key role in supporting the national team. Many Lebanese expatriates are deeply connected to their homeland, and sport serves as one of the most obvious ways to maintain that connection. Lebanese communities around the world have gathered around the national team, provided financial support, organized fan events, and contributed to raising the morale of players during international tournaments. Lebanese diaspora basketball players have also contributed directly to the team's success; many of these players, who have honed their skills in foreign countries, have chosen to represent Lebanon on the international stage. Their decision to wear the Lebanese national team jersey spoke of the deep national pride and loyalty that many members of the diaspora feel towards their homeland, despite the challenges facing the country. Diaspora support has also been instrumental in maintaining the team's momentum, providing a sense of connection and solidarity that transcended Lebanon's borders. Lebanese fans from all over the world watched the team's games, reinforcing the role of basketball as a cultural unifier of the nation.

The Way Forward:

While the recent success of the Lebanese basketball team is a cause for celebration and pride, the road forward is still challenging. Lebanon's ongoing economic crisis continues to affect the country's sports infrastructure, with many local clubs struggling to survive. In addition, the lack of investment in youth development poses a long-term challenge to sustain the success of the national team. However, the resilience shown by the team so far suggests that there is reason for optimism. The Lebanese Basketball Federation has proven that success is possible even in the face of adversity. As Lebanon continues to make its way through difficult times, the national basketball team is likely to remain a source of pride, unity and inspiration for the country.

Basketball is not just a sport in Lebanon, it is part of the national identity. For a country that has faced conflict and division, basketball has always been a unifying force. The popularity of sport extends across Lebanon's diverse religious lines, bringing people together in ways that politics and other social structures often fail to do. During times of national hardship and economic crisis, basketball has remained a cultural bedrock that provides a sense of pride.