Jordan readies for 31st FIBA Asia Cup
There has been much debate among observers and fans after Jordan ended participation in the Beirut Tournament last week losing 89-79 to Lebanon, Egypt 70-60 and Iran 70-61. As the coach announced the final roster, it was confirmed that many stars like Ahmad Duweiri and Ronday Jefferson and others would be missing the upcoming competitions.
The make-up of the Jordan squad leaves much to debate as incoming Canadian coach Roy Rana has to grapple with attaining results while building a new base for the national team which has had to undergo a revamp at a critical time with many players aging, uncommitted or not being in top form.
Now, the new squad has to try to keep up Jordan's impressive Asian record at the August 5-17 FIBA Asia Cup to which they advanced with an unbeaten record.
Jordan will play in Group C alongside China, Saudi Arabia and India
Group A: Qatar, Australia, South Korea, Lebanon,
Group B: Guam, Japan, Syria, Iran
Group D: Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, Iraq, the Philippines.
Group winners will qualify to the quarters while the second and third teams will play to advance. Jordan is now 35th in FIBA rankings, 8th in Asia and the 2nd best Arab team.
Jordan has qualified to the FIBA Asia Cup 17 times. In the last edition in 2022, Jordan finished 4th. Previously, their best position was finishing runner-up in 2011 and 3rd in 2009. Jordan is also the 2023 Asian Games silver medalist and three-time qualifier to the World Cup, 2010, 2019 and 2023.
Earlier this year, Spaniard Juan Manuel 'Piti' Hurtado replaced Wisam Al-Sous, in the last qualifying stage before Rana was named the senior men's team coach for the upcoming Asia Cup.
Rana who helped Egypt qualify to the 2023 World Cup and the Olympic qualifiers 2024 and was assistant to the German team during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics has had to grapple with the roller coaster ride of the game lately, which after years of a temporary committee leading the game, took time until a new board was assigned only to be followed by delaying starts to all national squad preparations.
Lagging results by most national teams were followed by reports that JBF Chairman Ahmad Hanandeh submitted his resignation after the U19 men's squad failed to impress at their second time at the World Cup. Jordan had qualified to the U19 World Cup after a 4th place finish at the U18 Asia Cup in 2024 about 30 years after first qualifying in 1995.
Jordan lost all their matches, finishing last after an unimpressive competitive form. In the first Round, Jordan lost the Dominican Republic and Switzerland and abstained from playing against Israel. In the Round of 16, they lost to the US and Mali in the matches deciding 9-16 spots. In their last match, they again lost to the Dominican Republic to finish last.
In addition, Jordan's women's team finished third in the Arab Championship. In the U16 WABA women's tournament, which ended Wednesday, Jordan lost to Iran 69-4, Lebanon 64-45 and Syria 61-52.
In the U16 WABA men's tournament, Jordan lost all three matches to Iran 96-88, Lebanon 88-68 and Syria 88-66 as Lebanon won the title.
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