Anthouny Bakar sees Qualifiers clash with Lebanon as chance to test abilities against top-tier opponent
DAMASCUS (Syria) – Anthouny Bakar was locked in to see the results of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Draw.
“IN A GROUP AS COMPETITIVE AS THIS, THE IMPORTANCE LIES NOT JUST IN ANY SINGLE PLAYER, BUT IN THE COLLECTIVE STRENGTH AND UNITY OF THE ENTIRE SYRIA TEAM. EACH PLAYER BRINGS UNIQUE SKILLS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TABLE, IT’S OUR TEAMWORK.”
After an exciting run with Syria through the previous Asia Cup Qualifiers cycle, a standout performance through the World Cup Qualifiers, and an improved second appearance in Asia Cup 2022, it should not be surprising that Bakar is excited about the upcoming games.
“The draw hints at a challenging and competitive Qualifiers,” said Bakar about his quick reactions to the results.
“I believe that Group D and Group F are shaping up to be the most intriguing and balanced ones to follow,” he added. “The competition in these groups seems fierce, promising captivating matchups and unpredictable outcomes.”
Bakar has apparently completed his scouting homework.
While Jordan might seem like the clear-cut favorite in Group D, the trio of Iraq, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia have more than enough potential to pull off a surprise and engage in close battles among each other.
Likewise in Group F, Lebanon are arguably the top team in the Group, but Bahrain, UAE, and – of course – Syria can give them a run for their money.
It’s not just the games in those two specific groups that Bakar is anticipating. The Syrian small forward is also looking all across the board for matchups he’s looking forward to seeing.
“Exciting matchups appear to be in the offering, promising thrilling basketball action for fans,” said Bakar as another reaction he had in regards to the results of the draw.
“I’m particularly intrigued by the Japan versus China matchup in Group C. It’s a game with high unpredictability and both teams bring strong competition to the court,” he said about the two teams that recently played in the World Cup.
Of course, as “a player dedicated to representing [his] country on the court”, Bakar is laser-focused on the games that Syria will be playing in – and to perform well as a team in those games.
“We’re eager to prove ourselves in the qualifiers,” he said.
“The Syrian team is fully committed to giving their all in Group F, especially with the privilege of playing three games on our home court in front of our dedicated fans and audience. However, the toughest aspect we anticipate facing is the formidable competition from teams with experienced players who have prepared extensively for the qualifiers.”
Syria are a proven competitive squad with one Semi-Finals and two Quarter-Finals trips in just seven appearances, but – as Bakar admitted – they know they are up against stiff competition.
“… SYRIA HAS BEEN THERE IN THE PAST… JUST IN TERMS OF OVERALL COMPETITIVENESS AND MYSTERY, IT’LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT GROUP PLAYS OUT WITH LEBANON BEING THE FAVORITE AS THEY SHOULD BE.”
But that won’t keep Bakar and Syria from putting in their best efforts.
“Each team in Group F from Bahrain, Lebanon, to UAE, presents a unique challenge to Syria,” said Bakar. “In international basketball, every game is a potential threat if you’re not adequately prepared. Our approach is to take each game as it comes, focusing on our opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. By adopting a game-by-game strategy, we aim to adapt, adjust, and give our best performance to overcome these challenges and secure our spot in the FIBA Asia Cup.”
There’s no surprise that one particular opening offers up as the biggest threat, especially considering that opponent is coming off a run to the Asia Cup Final in 2022.
“Lebanon are indeed a strong team and it’s a challenging matchup. We recognize their strengths. We view this matchup as an opportunity to test our own abilities against a top-tier opponent and we’ll approach it with respect for their strength and a determination to give our best performance.”
Most importantly, Syria knows from looking within themselves that it will take a team to get through this qualification phase to make it to the main event, especially in this specific group. Play as a team, win as a team.
“In a group as competitive as this, the importance lies not just in any single player, but in the collective strength and unity of the entire Syria team. Each player brings unique skills and contributions to the table, it’s our teamwork.”
