Faces Qatar in its second match at the Asian Games.. Today
Amman4 min read
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The national basketball team looks forward to making up for its opening loss against Chinese Taipei, when it meets its Qatari counterpart at 7:00 AM today, Saturday, Jordan time, at the Aichi Arena in Nagoya, Japan, in the second round of Group B matches at the 20th Asian Games.
The national team had lost to Chinese Taipei 80-83 in its first match, while the Qatari team started its campaign by defeating Iran 59-53, giving the match great importance in the calculations for competing for qualification tickets to the quarter-finals.
In the group's second match, Chinese Taipei and Iran will also meet on Saturday, making the results of both matches an important station in determining the shape of the competition before the final round of the first stage.
Recovery is the Goal
The “Jordan Falcons” enter the match aiming to achieve their first victory, after paying the price for a shaky start against Chinese Taipei, before delivering a better performance in the second half and narrowing the gap to just three points at the end.
There is an urgent need this time for a strong start and greater defensive concentration, along with improving off-ball offensive movement and raising scoring efficiency, which are aspects where some gaps appeared during the opening match.
The coaching staff, led by Spaniard Luis Gil Torres, hopes that the players will benefit from the lessons learned from the first match, especially regarding defensive concentration from the beginning, closing spaces against shooters, improving off-ball movement, and raising the scoring percentage from beyond the arc.
A Match That Can No Longer Afford a Slip
The importance of the Qatar match increases in light of the close levels of the group's teams, as a win will be an important step for the national team before its final match against Iran.
The “Jordan Falcons” need a much stronger and more focused start compared to the first match, and not give the opponent a chance to build a comfortable lead, especially since the late comeback against Chinese Taipei confirmed the team's ability to compete when defensive and offensive performance levels rise.
It is also expected that Dar Tucker will continue his leadership role, and that Abdullah Olajuwon and Perrin Buford will maintain their offensive effectiveness.
The result of the Chinese Taipei and Iran match will also be of direct importance to Jordan, as it will largely determine the standings before the final round.
Concerning Injury for Al-Dwairi
The national team received a painful blow with the departure of center Ahmed Al-Dwairi due to an injury sustained during the Chinese Taipei match, as medical examinations showed he suffered a complete tear in the cruciate ligament, requiring him to undergo surgery within the next few days.
According to the joint statement by the Jordan Olympic Committee and the Basketball Federation, Al-Dwairi will undergo a specialized treatment and rehabilitation program under the supervision of the medical staff, in order to restore his readiness and return to the basketball courts as soon as possible.
Al-Dwairi's injury comes at a difficult time for the national team, ahead of the upcoming window of the Asian qualifiers for the 2027 World Cup2027, given the pivotal role the player plays under the basket and his international experience, placing the coaching staff before an additional challenge in upcoming commitments.
Road to the Quarter-Finals
Group B includes the teams of Jordan, Qatar, Iran, and Chinese Taipei, with the group winner and runner-up directly qualifying for the quarter-finals, along with the two best third-placed teams across the three groups.
Accordingly, a win over Qatar will bring the national team strongly back into contention, and give it a morale boost before its final first-round match against Iran, scheduled for next Sunday at 4:00 AM Jordan time.
Thus, the motto of «The Jordanian Falcons» becomes clear for Saturday's clash: win first, and await the result of Chinese Taipei and Iran before entering the final qualification calculations.
