Jordan secures spot in FIBA Asia Cup

AMMAN  –– Jordan's basketball team will regroup again this Wednesday after a short break after winning the West Asian Basketball Association (WABA) Championship, which concluded in Amman on the weekend.

Jordan qualified to the 5th FIBA Asia Cup after ending the event with an unbeaten run overcoming Yemen 98-38, Syria 82-71, Iraq 65-51, Iran 69-57 and Palestine 74-57. Iran came in second and Syria third.

"It was important to win the WABA title on home ground, but much more effort needs to be exerted in the next phase," Coach Murad Barakat was quoted by local media.

The team will now regroup Wednesday to prepare for the June 21-26 Alexandria Championship, which will be a crucial test in preparation for the Asia Cup.  

The 5th FIBA Asia Cup will have 10 teams playing. Hosts, China, as well as defending FIBA Asia Championship titleholders Iran automatically qualified. 

The event set for Wuhan, China from July 11-19, is held every two years and was previously known as Stankovich Cup. 

Qatar were champs in 2004, Jordan in 2008, Lebanon in 2010 and Iran in 2012.

The winner of this tournament automatically qualifies for the FIBA Asia Championship in 2015. The  FIBA Asia Basketball Championship qualifies three teams to the World Championship. 

Jordan reached the World Championship once in 2010, after they beat Lebanon in the third place match at the 25th FIBA Asia Championship.

Jordan had won the West Asia title in 2002 and qualified to the FIBA Asia Championship.