BASKETBALL READY FOR WORLD CUP QUALYFIERS

Jordan will meet Syria tomorrow in their opening Group C World Cup qualifying match in Beirut looking to lay the foundations for a successful campaign.

With Lebanon to come on Sunday in Amman and India after that, Jordan know that nothing less than victory will be acceptable against their neighbours on neutral turf as they bid to reach the 2019 World Cup in China.

Playmaker Dar Tucker has arrived to join the squad from Argentina where he was named their league’s 2017 MVP. He has joined the likes of veteran Zaid Abbas who plays his basketball professionally in China.

“It's very important for us to win this opener,” said head coach Sam Daghlas.

“Syria are a very good team so we know it won’t be easy. But we have worked on our tactics and created a game plan that will hopefully lead us to victory.”

Daghlas and Abbas were a part of the 2010 team that reached the World Cup in Turkey following a dramatic qualifying campaign, so he knows the levels his team must reach.

Sixteen teams from Asia have been divided into four groups to play each other on a home and away basis. The top three will advance to the next phase of qualifiers.