"We come from a bankrupt country, we come from a country full of sadness, so I just want to make our people happy." Qualifying for the semi-finals means a lot, which means a lot to our country and our people, who are fighting every day to dedicate this victory to every Lebanese people. ”
After scoring a game-high 32 points and leading the team to beat the Chinese men's basketball team, Lebanon's number one star Araqui made this expression in tears in front of the camera in an interview.
After the match, he also posted photos of the game on social media and showed off Chinese: "Fearless - FEARLESS".
In the semi-finals, Lebanon defeated Jordan, the team's final attack, Araki broke to the left and then changed to the right, facing the inside line Abbas's defense, with the iconic throw, hollow into the net, hit the quasi-kill.
Araki wrote on social media: "Lebanon, this is a victory for you! ”
This year's Asian Cup, he mentioned again and again the significance of winning for the whole country.
Basketball, not just basketball.
We see the power of faith.
Lebanon, since ancient times has been a place of contention, from the geographical point of view, this small country in the Middle East is located at a crossroads, with outstanding location advantages, once one of the richest countries in the Middle East, known as "Little Switzerland of the Middle East" and "Little Paris of the Middle East".
The country has also been at war for a long time.
In April of this year, Lebanon's central bank and government were already in bankruptcy.
The epidemic, the Conflict between Russia and Ukraine and other factors have caused most of the lebanese people to be in a state of extreme poverty.
Knowing this social background, we can appreciate the expression of Araki, who is eager to bring energy to the country through the victory of the basketball game.
The basketball team has undertaken such a historical mission.
Alaki's team ended the Asian Cup with a runner-up result.
Unlike the smooth sailing in the group stage, if I had to use one or two words to summarize the journey of the Lebanese men's basketball team in the knockout rounds, I would use "meticulous" and "tenacious".
Whether it is the quarter-final against the Chinese men's basketball team, or the semi-final against Jordan, or last night's battle with Australia for the championship, they all played to the last second.
Although the official once ranked them in the first place in Asia, in fact, the Lebanese men's basketball team did not have the advantage of crushing.
Evenly matched matches often test 2 points:
First, the character of the team, and second, the temperament of the team's top card.
And the shaping of the team's personality often depends on what kind of player your top card is.
Lebanon can win the fourth Asian Cup (Asian Championship) runner-up in the history of the team, and their biggest advantage is undoubtedly The Alaki who won the MVP of the tournament.
Through this tournament, presumably Chinese fans have already seen his strength.
It's not that hard to admit the excellence of others, and as the title says, Araki is now the strongest defender in Asia.
Before the game was played, he was called "Asian Dragic", and after the Asian Cup, I think it is possible to call him "Asian Ginobili".
Like the demon knife, wearing a No. 20 jersey, a left-handed general, and a one-move style have the charm of a Pampas vulture.
It's not the same, probably because there is a gap between Araki's physical fitness and Manu's, and he can't face the big one's bald dunk after entering the inside line.
In addition, Araki's hairstyle is still different from Ginobili... Araqui's physical fitness may determine that he can't call the wind and rain on the NBA field, but he plays asian games, which is good.
Strong psychological quality, the wind of the general, and excellent basic skills allow Araki to "slay the demons" in adversity and save the team from fire and water.
He doesn't jump high, he doesn't run fast, and his movements are not fancy, but he wins in a solid, stable possession, few mistakes, no obvious shortcomings in technology, can shoot outside lines, can half intercept baskets, can ride horses and shoot arrows, and can drive teammates.
As I said before, facing the Chinese men's basketball team, Araki almost killed a goal of the game, which was pulled back to pick up a small dunbai under the crotch, a sudden step to throw, a flowing cloud, our defender, really can't do it.
Behind this is the ultimate embodiment of the basic skills.
If you are in the usual training, without a thousand hammers and hammers, you can't do it at all.
Arachi also didn't play in too many high-level leagues, and when he was outside the CBA, he was also decent.
However, that didn't stop him from shining in intercontinental matches.
In the past, when it comes to the iconic figure of Lebanese basketball, the first thing that comes to mind is Hatib, who was once known as "Asia's first small forward" and Yao Ming is a contemporary.
Today, Araki has taken over the torch of inheritance in the hands of his predecessors.
To take the second place with a 2-point difference, there will be some regrets. But I believe that on the streets of Lebanon, there will also be people celebrating this.
This country needs this kind of energy injection, and this is the value of games beyond basketball.