PROLIFIC guard Wael Arakji has been listed as part of Lebanon’s 12-man roster for the 31st FIBA Asia Cup.

Despite suffering a shoulder injury in the last Basketball Champions League Asia that kept him from completing the tournament, the 6-foot-4 point guard is again slated to lead the Cedars’ bid to finally nail the elusive championship after four runner-up finishes in the last 24 years.

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The 30-year-old Beirut native was sensational in the last Asia Cup edition in 2022, one which saw him emerge as the men’s top scorers and MVP with a 26.0-point average per game. The Cedars took Australia to the limit before losing a close one, 75-73.

Also part of the Lebanon team is veteran shooting guard Amir Saoud and a new naturalized player in Dedric Lawson, a former Kansas Jayhawk who is playing as an import in the Chinese pro league.

The 34-year-old Saoud was out with a broken rib and didn’t play for Al Riyadi in the same BCL Asia tournament two months ago where he was teammate with Arakji, Ali Mansour, big man Hayk Gyokchyan, and former Australian national team member Thon Maker.

Arakji hurt his shoulder during the quarterfinals against Zhejiang Guangsha, which Al Riyadi still won, 102-66.

He was later ruled out for the rest of the tournament, where Al Ryadi made it all the way to the finals only to lose its title to Utsonomiya Brex, 94-93, behind the game-winner of DJ Newbill.

Following the injury, Arakji didn't see action in the Beirut Cup and there were reports that he will have to undergo surgery and out for at least three months, which would've meant foregoing Lebanon's campaign in the Asia Cup.

Other familiar faces in the Cedars’ roster are Mansour, Gyokchyan, Ali Mezher, and naturalized player Dedric Lawson.

Lebanon is bracketed in Group A with defending champion Australia, Qatar, and South Korea.

Submission of final 12-man rosters for all teams is on Monday evening prior to the opener of the two-week Jeddah showpiece.

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