2024-07-02 22:55:15
67th place within the FIBA world rating. Bahrain is the lowest-ranked crew within the Olympic qualifiers in Puerto Rico.
The Lithuanian males’s basketball crew ranks tenth, Italy – thirteenth, Puerto Rico – sixteenth, Mexico – twenty fifth and Ivory Coast – thirty first.
What do the Bahrain nationwide crew count on from this choice?
“We are going to speak to the fellows on the day of the match. I labored for the Lebanese crew final 12 months, which performed within the World Cup. We fought there towards the nationwide groups of France, Latvia and Canada. I do know what that degree means on the basketball courtroom. There are loads of names, however when issues transfer to the pitch, every little thing modifications.
I’ll say to the scholars earlier than the match – let’s benefit from the second, combat and achieve new expertise. We got here right here to benefit from the time and the match,” stated J. El to the web site lrytas.lt. Hajj.
In Puerto Rico, the Bahraini basketball gamers held their first coaching simply in the future earlier than the match.
That is as a result of the crew traveled to Puerto Rico for an unfathomable period of time, about 40 hours.
“We’re right here for the primary time, to be sincere, the journey took too lengthy, we traveled for 40 hours from Bahrain… however every little thing is okay, crucial factor is that we’re right here,” stated J. El Hajjis, the information of the Bahrain nationwide crew. – Such a visit from Bahrain is regular. We had two layovers, first flying to Dubai, then touring to Miami and from Miami to San Juan. We had a number of flight delays, however every little thing is okay.”
How tough was it actually for the Bahrain nationwide crew to journey to San Juan?
“It isn’t all in regards to the journey. Additionally contributing is the time distinction, which is 8 hours from Bahrain time. This can be our first time enjoying basketball in a very totally different time, however we can have two video games to give attention to. We’ve no excuses,” stated the Bahrain nationwide crew captain.
Within the Bahrain nationwide crew, virtually all gamers compete within the native championships of the nation.
Solely Wayne Chism performs in Saudi Arabia and Zee Hamoda competes within the NCAA.
Wanting on the naked statistics, it’s Z. Hamoda who needs to be the chief of the nationwide crew.
He performed within the high division of the NCAA final season the place he performed for Sacramento State College and averaged 11.9 factors, 4 rebounds and 1.7 assists.
Not solely that, this marketing campaign within the Olympic choice has already gone down within the historical past of Bahraini basketball, because the combat for a ticket to Paris is the very best level within the nation’s basketball historical past, however, regardless of this, not even the largest followers of the Bahrain nationwide crew can have excessive hopes for nice outcomes.
“It is the primary time we have performed in an Olympic qualifier, and we have by no means performed in a World Cup earlier than. We solely performed towards nationwide groups in Asia. That is the largest stage we’ll play on.
We are going to compete towards the strongest international locations in Europe and different international locations… however Bahrain itself is bettering in basketball. Let’s hope that our title can be heard increasingly more loudly on the planet sooner or later.
In our native leagues, virtually all matches are offered out. Additionally it is with the nationwide crew. After we come again from the qualifiers, we’ll play a pleasant event the place tickets will even be offered out. Bahrain is a soccer nation, however now we now have extra expertise in basketball, we now have guys who play overseas and enhance”, stated Mr. El Hajjis.
Within the first match in Lithuanian time, the Bahrain nationwide crew will play on the night time from Tuesday to Wednesday (from 0:30 a.m. Lithuanian time), the place they may meet the Italian nationwide crew in a Group B match.
What are the ideas of the Bahraini strategist earlier than the extraordinary problem for his wards?
“It is an incredible alternative to play towards such a succesful crew. Italy is ranked excessive within the FIBA rankings, is a superb crew and has nice gamers who play within the Euroleague and the NBA.
We’re blissful to combat them. We all know it will not be straightforward towards them as a result of they’re highly effective and they’re preventing for a spot within the Olympics, however it is a nice alternative for our boys to see this degree of basketball,” concluded Bahrain head coach J. El Hajji.
2024-07-02 22:55:15