BEIRUT, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon lost Thursday its second game in the FIBA Asia Cup to New Zealand 86-82 in Group C.
Lebanon started the game with emphasis on the skills of its experienced captain Fadi el-Khatib who scored 13 points in the first quarter and put pressure on the New Zealand players who were forced to commit many fouls that put some of their skilled players quickly in foul trouble.
Lebanon ended the first quarter with a 23-19 lead.
But in the 2nd quarter, the New Zealand coach asked his players to closely defend el-Khatib who lost his temper and committed an unnecessary technical foul before committing two other fouls and was quickly in foul trouble that forced his coach to take him out of the game in the middle of the second quarter.
That gave the New Zealand team a clear advantage in the absence of the Lebanese leader and ended the second quarter and the first half of the game 42-40.
In the third quarter the Lebanese coach pushed el-Khatib back into the game but did not manage much in helping his team finding back its equilibrium but managed to score only 21 points while the New Zealand scored 25 and ended the quarter 67-61.
In the fourth quarter Lebanon managed to level the score at 75-75 and had a golden opportunity to lead 40 seconds before the final whistle when the New Zealand committed a turnover while leading 84-82, but a ruthless control by the Lebanese player led him to lose the ball in favor of the New Zealand team who scored the final two points and win the game 86-82.
El-Khatib was the best scorer of the game with 33 points and 11 rebounds and 8 assists.
New Zealand lead Group C with 4 points, Lebanon is second with 3 points, while South Korea is third with 3 points and Kazakhstan with 2 points.
In other games played today, South Korea beat Kazakhstan 116-55 in Group C, Japan beat Chinese Taipei 87-49 in Group A and Australia beat Hong Kong of China 99-58. Enditem
