Lebanese national team player Sergio El Darwich spoke with Basketball Sphere about his team’s expectations before the FIBA World Cup, the biggest favorites, but also about his experience in Serbia at the YUBAC camp and the USA.
El Darwich will be one of the main players of the Asian national team at the upcoming Mundobasket. He is the team’s best shooter and assistant. In the qualifiers, Lebanon achieved seven victories, and three rounds before the end secured an appearance at the tournament, where they will perform for the first time in 13 years.
,,It is a big thing especially because Lebanon hasn’t qualified for the World Cup since 2010. For me personally, it’s a dream come true, I grew up watching the old generation in the World Cup and now it’s my turn to put on the jersey and represent the country on the biggest stage. So it’s a blessing and an honor to be able to compete and represent my country.
Basketball in Lebanon is very popular. It’s the number one sport in the country. Most Lebanese people follow basketball because it has brought them so much joy and passion for around 25 years”, said El Darwich at the beginning of the conversation.
About rivals in the group stage
Lebanon played four preparation matches. They beat Iran and Egypt, and lost to Ivory Coast and Mexico, at last check.
,,We had our ups and downs, but I can tell you that we are getting better, the team is playing better. Those games that we played helped us discover our weaknesses and strengths, so we are learning from them and using them to progress with our preparations so we can be ready for the group stage.”
And it won’t be easy at all in the group stage. Lebanon’s rivals are two strong medal contenders; France, Canada, and also Latvia as a high quality team.
,,We do have a tough group. We might have the toughest group out of everyone. It’s going to be a tough challenge, but at the same time an exciting one, because we get to play against the best. With that being said, we are going to do our best to look good and try to steal the win which will go down in history.”
About the biggest favorite
The upcoming tournament will also be specific in that a large number of teams are competing for a medal. When it comes to favorites, the Lebanon guard had no dilemma as to who has the quality to win the gold.
,,I think the USA has the biggest chance to lift the trophy, but at the same time, we can’t sleep on the European teams because they are all ready to fight for the title such as France, Spain, Serbia, and Germany. Besides that, Australia has some great names on the roster.
Serbia is good but obviously, without Nikola Jokic it’s different. You can never count them out because they proved for a long time that they are always fighting for the title.”
About experience in Serbia and the USA
El Darwich is familiar with Serbia because he was part of the YUBAC camp when he was still growing into a top player.
,,That was a great experience for me. I went there when I was 15. Really enjoyed it. My dad sent me there to gain experience and to see different cultures. So it was really good.”
A commitment to college basketball soon followed. He played three seasons in the NCAA. He was part of the University of South Dakota and then spent two years with the Maine Black Bears.
,,The NCAA was a big part of my career. It made me the player who I am today. The USA made me the person I am today, so I am forever grateful that I participated in the NCAA“, concluded Sergio El Darwich.