Wednesday 5 October 2022 – 11:52 pm
ABU DHABI, Oct 5 / WAM / Fadi Al-Khatib, the former Lebanese basketball star and legend, confirmed that Abu Dhabi’s hosting of two preliminary games of NBA competitions is an exceptional and unique event that contributes to a qualitative leap for UAE basketball.
The Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks winners of the 2021 championship will meet on 6 and 8 October at the Etihad Arena on the island of Yas, for the first time in the Persian Gulf region.
Al-Khatib, who is a member of the FIBA Technical Committee, said: “The UAE’s success in attracting the NBA to hold its competitions in Abu Dhabi, and in attracting two teams such as the Atlanta Hawks and the Milwaukee Bucks , who counts among is currently the most important player in the world, Yanis Antetokounmpo is a sign of the value and position of Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates as a whole for the world. “
He added: “As Arabs, we are proud of the Emirates, which make history and contribute to a quantum leap in the world of sport and give impetus to Emirati and Arab basketball, and demonstrates the strength of this game, especially with the general trend of Emirati sports managers to pay more attention to basketball, which was reflected in the presence of a current boom in the level of play in the Emirates. “
Al-Khatib has a long record with Lebanese basketball, as he helped lead his country to World Cup qualifiers 3 times in 2002, 2006 and 2010, as well as winning many local, Arab and continental titles, which he achieved with the national team Lebanese and with the Lebanese teams in which he played. .
Awad Mokhtar / Waleed Farouk / Assem Al-Khouli
