Syria men's national basketball team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Syria women's national basketball team.

Syria national basketball team (Arabic: منتخب سوريا لكرة السلة رجال), nicknamed Nosour Qasioun (Qasioun Eagles), represents Syria in international basketball competitions.^[2] The squad is governed by SBF, and is part of the FIBA Asia zone.^[3] Based on the number of overall medals won, Syria is a major force among basketball teams of WABA and ABC. The team has won eight medals at the WABA Championship and five at the Arab Basketball Championship.

Syria

FIBA ranking	71 1 (25 February 2025)[1]
Joined FIBA	1948
FIBA zone	FIBA Asia
National federation	Syrian Basketball Federation
Coach	Joseph Stiebing
Nickname(s)	Nosour Qasioun (Arabic: نسور قاسيون, lit. 'Qasioun Eagles')
Olympic Games
Appearances	None
FIBA World Cup
Appearances	None
FIBA Asia Cup
Appearances	7
Medals	None
Home Away
Medal record WABA Championship 1999 Lebanon Team 2001 Jordan Team 2000 Lebanon Team 2004 Iran Team 2008 Jordan Team 2010 Iraq Team 2011 Iraq Team 2014 Jordan Team West Asian Games 2002 Kuwait Team 2005 Doha Team Arab Championship 1992 Syria Team 1991 Egypt Team 1997 Lebanon Team 1994 Egypt Team Pan Arab Games 1992 Syria Team 1953 Egypt Team 1957 Lebanon Team 1997 Lebanon Team 1965 United Arab Republic Team

Syria has qualified for the FIBA Asia Cup seven times and one time for EuroBasket throughout their history. Their best tournament result was the 4th place finish at the 2001 FIBA Asia Cup. However, Syria still seeks qualification for their first appearance to the FIBA World Cup and Olympics.

History

It was created in 1948 and is one of the oldest FIBA Asia teams on the continent, although in its first years of existence it only managed to participate in the Pan Arab Games.^[4] Syria participated in the EuroBasket 1949, winning only match out of six against Lebanon.^[5]

Its first appearance at the FIBA Asia Championship was at the 1999 edition in Fukuoka, Japan where they finished in eighth place.^[6]

The team had its best year in 2001, when it finished in the Final Four of the Asian Basketball Championship in Shanghai, China.^[6][7]

In November 2021, FIBA lifted the ban on Syrian stadiums, which was issued due to the war in the country, and therefore for the first time in 10 years, an international match could take place.^[8] It took place on 29 November 2021 at the Al-Fayhaa Sports Arena in Damascus, where a men's basketball team played 2023 FIBA World Cup qualification match against Kazakhstan.^[9]

In early December 2021, the Syrian Basketball Federation confirmed Syria's return to the Arab Nations Championship in the UAE which will take place 9 to 16 February 2022. Syria had been absent from the event for ten years because of the Syrian war.^[10]

Competition record

FIBA Asia Cup

Main article: FIBA Asia Cup

Year	Position	Pld	W	L
Europe
1949	6th	6	1	5
Asia
1960	Part of United Arab Republic
1963	did not enter
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973
1975
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999	8th place	6	1	5
2001	4th place	7	4	3
2003	9th place	7	3	4
2005	did not enter
2007	11th place	7	3	4
2009	did not enter
2011	9th place	8	4	4
2013	did not enter
2015	did not qualify
2017	10th place	4	1	3
2022	12th place	4	1	3
2025	16th place	3	0	3
Total	8/31	46	17	29

FIBA Asia Challenge

Main article: FIBA Asia Challenge

Year	Rank	Pld	W	L
2004	4th place	5	2	3
2008	did not qualify
2010	10th place	5	0	5
2012	did not qualify
2014
2016
Total	2/6	10	2	8

West Asian Basketball Championship

See also: West Asian Basketball Championship

Year	Rank	Pld	W	L
1999	Champions	4	4	0
2000	Runners-up	4	2	2
2001	Champions	4	3	1
2002	did not enter	–	–	–
2004	Runners-up	4	–	–
2005	did not enter	–	–	–
2008	3rd place	3	1	2
2010	3rd place	3	1	2
2011	3rd place	3	1	2
2012	4th place	5	2	3
2013	did not enter	–	–	–
2014	3rd place	5	3	2
2015	4th place	4	1	3
2016	5th place	4	0	4
2017	5th place	5	1	4
Total	12/15	48	19	25

Asian Games

See also: Basketball at the Asian Games

Year	Rank	Pld	W	L
1951	did not qualify
1954
1958
1962
1966
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006	10th place	9	4	5
2010	did not qualify
2014
2018	6th place	4	1	3
2022	did not qualify
Total	2/18	13	5	8

West Asian Games

See also: Basketball at the West Asian Games

Year	Rank	Pld	W	L
1997	did not qualify
2002	3rd place	4	2	2
2005	3rd place	6	4	2
Total	2/3	10	6	4

Mediterranean Games

See also: Basketball at the Mediterranean Games

Year	Rank	Pld	W	L
1951	7th place	–	–	–
1955	did not qualify
1959	Part of United Arab Republic
1963	did not qualify
1967
1971	5th place	–	–	–
1975	did not qualify
1979
1983
1987	5th place	–	–	–
1991	did not qualify
1993
1997
2001
2005
2009
2013
2018	Replaced by 3x3 Basketball Events
2022
Total	3/17	-	-	-

Arab Championship

See also: Arab Basketball Championship

Year	Rank	Pld	W	L
1974	did not enter
1975
1978
1981
1983
1985	Championship cancelled
1987	did not enter
1989	Withdrew from the tournament
1991	Runners-up	–	–	–
1992	Champions	–	–	–
1994	3rd place	–	–	–
1997	Runners-up	–	–	–
1999	3rd place	–	–	–
2000	did not enter
2002
2005
2007
2008	4th place	–	–	–
2009	4th place	–	–	–
2010	did not enter
2015
2017
2018
2022	Withdrew from the tournament
2023	did not enter
2025
Total	7/24	-	-	-

Pan Arab Games

See also: Basketball at the Pan Arab Games

Year	Rank	Pld	W	L
1953	Runners-up	–	–	–
1957	Runners-up	–	–	–
1961	did not enter
1965	3rd place	–	–	–
1976	Championship cancelled
1985	4th place	–	–	–
1992	Champions	–	–	–
1997	Runners-up	–	–	–
1999	4th place	–	–	–
2004	did not enter
2007
2011	Withdrew from the tournament
Total	7/12	-	-	-

Islamic Solidarity Games

See also: Basketball at the Islamic Solidarity Games

Year	Rank	Pld	W	L
2005	7th place	7	3	4
2013	did not qualify
2017	Replaced by 3x3 Basketball Events
Total	1/2	7	3	4

EuroBasket 1949

Syria once appeared at the European championships, namely at the Eurobasket 1949, held in Cairo, Egypt. The refusal of the Soviet Union to host the competition and FIBA Europe's unwillingness to ask Czechoslovakia to host consecutive tournaments meant that 1947 bronze medallist Egypt hosted the competition. Due to travel difficulties and fears, few European teams would travel to the African country to compete. Syria, as well as Lebanon, were asked to compete in the European championship despite being Asian countries.

In the seven team round robin tournament, the Syrians finished with a 1–5 record and finished in sixth place.

• Team roster:

4 Shawki, 5 Khayat, 6 Nashawi, 7 Fo. Habash, 8 Abouhitian, 9 Qoudsi, 10 Sharaf, 11 Fe. Habash, 12 Shukri, 13 Nael, 14 Mashnouq, 15 Tinawi

Team

Current roster

Roster for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup.^[11]

Syria men's national basketball team – 2025 FIBA Asia Cup roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. SG 00 Mohammad Albalbisi 18 – (2007-07-31)31 July 2007 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) Al Wahda SG 0 George Nounou 25 – (2000-01-15)15 January 2000 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) Jalaa SC G 1 Anthouny Bakar 31 – (1994-01-10)10 January 1994 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Al-Ittihad SF 2 Omar Idelbi 26 – (1999-07-13)13 July 1999 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) Al Wahda G 4 George Dolmaye 23 – (2002-01-01)1 January 2002 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) Al Jalaa G 5 Keron DeShields (NP) 32 – (1992-12-04)4 December 1992 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) Al-Ittihad PF 7 Kamel Abdulla 25 – (2000-01-25)25 January 2000 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) Al Jalaa PG 8 Majd Arbasha 35 – (1990-04-21)21 April 1990 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) Al Wahda PF 13 Mohamad Bilal Atli 30 – (1995-01-01)1 January 1995 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Al-Ittihad PF 21 Omar Cheikh Ali 34 – (1991-01-01)1 January 1991 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Al-Karamah PF 23 Hani Adribi (C) 34 – (1990-10-04)4 October 1990 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Al Wahda PF 33 Christian James Maran 26 – (1998-12-01)1 December 1998 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Al Wahda	Head coach Joseph Stiebing Assistant coach(es) Oday Al-Khabbaz Ali Marhoon Fawaz Mreish Legend (C) Team captain (NP) Naturalized player Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on 5 August 2025

Past rosters

2022 FIBA Asia Cup

^[12]

Syria national basketball team – 2022 FIBA Asia Cup roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. SF 1 Anthouny Bakar 28 – (1994-01-10)10 January 1994 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Al-Ittihad BC SG 2 Elias Azrie 20 – (2002-01-02)2 January 2002 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Al-Jalaa BC PG 6 Georgi Nazarian 28 – (1994-01-04)4 January 1994 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) Al-Karamah BC SG 7 Nadim Issa 32 – (1990-05-26)26 May 1990 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Al-Ittihad BC SG 8 Magd Harbasha 29 – (1990-04-21)21 April 1990 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) Al Wahda BC PG 9 Isshak Oubeid 27 – (1995-02-22)22 February 1995 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Al-Ittihad BC C 12 Abdulwahab Al-Hamwi 32 – (1990-06-15)15 June 1990 2.20 m (7 ft 3 in) Al-Ittihad BC SF 14 Omar Idelbi 23 – (1999-07-13)13 July 1999 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) Al Wahda PF 15 Hani Adribe 31 – (1990-10-04)4 October 1990 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Al Wahda PF 21 Omar Cheikh Ali 31 – (1991-01-01)1 January 1991 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Al-Karamah BC F 24 Amer Alsati 30 – (1992-04-05)5 April 1992 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Shabab Al Ahli SG 88 Amir Hinton 25 – (1997-02-14)14 February 1997 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Kouvot	Head coach Javier Juárez Crespo Assistant coach(es) Julen Fornies Martinez Legend (C) Team captain (NP) Naturalized player Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on 19 July 2022

2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualification

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the FIBA Executive Committee decided that for the 2020 November window games will be held at a single venue under a bubble format.^[13]

Venue: Al-Gharafa Sports Club Multi-Purpose Hall, Doha

Opposition: Qatar (28 November)
Opposition: Iran (30 November)^[14]

Syria national basketball team – 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualification roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. PF 00 Magd Bo Aetah 32 – (1988-11-06)6 November 1988 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) PG 1 Anthouny Bakar 26 – (1994-01-10)10 January 1994 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Al-Ittihad BC SG 5 Wael Jlilaty 30 – (1990-01-03)3 January 1990 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Al-Jalaa BC PG 6 Georgi Nazarian 26 – (1994-01-04)4 January 1994 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) Al-Karamah BC SG 9 Tarek Aljabi 30 – (1990-08-02)2 August 1990 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Al-Jaish BC PG 10 Rami Merjaneh 36 – (1983-12-01)1 December 1983 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) Al-Jaish BC PF 11 Jamil Saddir 31 – (1989-01-13)13 January 1989 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Al-Wathba SC C 12 Abdulwahab Al-Hamwi 30 – (1990-06-15)15 June 1990 2.20 m (7 ft 3 in) Al-Jaish BC G 13 Sharif Al Osh 32 – (1988-03-14)14 March 1988 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Al Wahda BC PF 21 Omar Cheikh Ali 29 – (1991-01-01)1 January 1991 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Al-Jaish BC PF 23 Tofek Saleh 30 – (1990-03-26)26 March 1990 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Al-Ittihad BC G 24 Trey Kell 24 – (1996-04-05)5 April 1996 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)	Head coach Joe Salerno Assistant coach(es) Azzam Al-Hussein Legend (C) Team captain (NP) Naturalized player Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on 28 November 2020

2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualification

Opposition: Iran (20 February)
Venue: Azadi Basketball Hall, Tehran
Opposition: Saudi Arabia (23 February)
Venue: King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah^[14]

Syria national basketball team – 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualification roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. PG 1 Anthouny Bakar 26 – (1994-01-10)10 January 1994 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Al-Ittihad BC SG 3 Zakria Alhusain 29 – (1991-01-01)1 January 1991 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Al-Wathba BC SG 5 Wael Jlilaty 30 – (1990-01-03)3 January 1990 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Al-Jalaa BC SG 8 Majd Arbasha 29 – (1990-04-21)21 April 1990 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) Al Wahda BC SG 9 Tarek Aljabi 29 – (1990-08-02)2 August 1990 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Al-Jaish BC PG 10 Rami Merjaneh 36 – (1983-12-01)1 December 1983 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) Al-Jaish BC PF 11 Jamil Saddir 31 – (1989-01-13)13 January 1989 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Al-Wathba BC C 12 Abdulwahab Al-Hamwi 29 – (1990-06-15)15 June 1990 2.20 m (7 ft 3 in) Al-Jaish BC G 13 Sharif Al Osh 31 – (1988-03-14)14 March 1988 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Al Wahda BC F 15 Hani Adribe 29 – (1990-10-04)4 October 1990 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) Al-Jaish BC PF 21 Omar Cheikh Ali 29 – (1991-01-01)1 January 1991 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Al-Jaish BC PF 23 Tofek Saleh 29 – (1990-03-26)26 March 1990 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Al-Ittihad BC	Head coach Hadi Haj Darwish Assistant coach(es) Radwan Hasaballah Legend (C) Team captain (NP) Naturalized player Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on 20 February 2020

Roster for the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup.^[15]

Syria men's national basketball team – 2017 FIBA Asia Cup roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. PG 4 William Al-Haddad 30 – (1987-07-05)5 July 1987 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) PG 5 Sharif Al-Osh 29 – (1988-03-14)14 March 1988 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) SG 6 Michel Madanly 36 – (1981-03-10)10 March 1981 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) Landslake Lions SF 7 Khalel Khori 19 – (1998-06-06)6 June 1998 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) SF 8 Al Hakam Abd Allah 35 – (1982-01-01)1 January 1982 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) SG 9 Tarek Al-Jabi 27 – (1990-08-02)2 August 1990 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) SF 10 Anthouny Bakar 23 – (1994-01-10)10 January 1994 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) PF 11 Jamil Saddir 28 – (1989-01-13)13 January 1989 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) PF 12 Omar Cheikh Ali 26 – (1991-01-01)1 January 1991 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) C 13 Abdulwahab Al-Hamwi 27 – (1990-06-15)15 June 1990 2.18 m (7 ft 2 in) C 14 Ivan Todorović (NP) 33 – (1984-01-17)17 January 1984 2.14 m (7 ft 0 in) PF 15 Hani Adribe 26 – (1990-10-04)4 October 1990 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)	Head coach Nenad Krdzic Assistant coach(es) Hadi Haj Darwish Legend (C) Team captain (NP) Naturalized player Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on 8 August 2017

At the 2017 WABA Championship:^[16]

Syria national basketball team roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club PG 4 Georgi Nazarian 23 – (1994-01-04)4 January 1994 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) Al Karameh G/F 5 Wael Jlilaty 27 – (1990-01-03)3 January 1990 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) Al Wahda SF 6 Micheal Madanly 35 – (1981-03-10)10 March 1981 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) TNT KaTropa SF 7 Mahmoud Trab 23 – (1994-01-01)1 January 1994 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) Al-Ittihad G 8 Magd Harbasha 26 – (1990-04-21)21 April 1990 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Al Wahda F 9 Sebouh Kharadjian 25 – (1992-01-06)6 January 1992 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) Al Yarmouk F 10 Anthouny Bakar 23 – (1994-01-10)10 January 1994 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) Jalaa PF 11 Jamil Saddir 28 – (1989-01-13)13 January 1989 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Al Wahda C 12 Omar Cheikh 26 – (1991-01-01)1 January 1991 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Al-Jaish PF 13 Khalel Khori 18 – (1998-06-06)6 June 1998 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) Al-Jaish PF 14 Yamen Haidar 27 – (1989-04-02)2 April 1989 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) Al Wahda C 15 Hani Adribi 26 – (1990-10-04)4 October 1990 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) Al Karameh	Head coach Hady Darwish Assistant coach(es) George Shakar Legend Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on 29 January 2017

Depth chart

Pos.	Starting 5	Bench 1	Bench 2
C	Kemal Canpolat	Omar Cheikh
PF	Jamil Saddir	Khalel Khori	Yamen Haidar
SF	Michael Madanly	Mahmoud Trab	Anthouny Bakar
SG	Trey Kell	Wael Jlilaty
PG	Georgi Nazarian		Sebouh Kharadjian

Head coach position

• Pat Elzie – 2003
• Mohamed Abo Sada – 2007
• Imad Othman – 2009
• Hady Darwish – 2010
• Mensur Bajramović – 2011
• Goran Miljević – 2011
• Imad Othman – 2012–2014
• Hady Haj Darwish – 2014–2017
• Nenad Krdžić – 2017
• Veselin Matić – 2017–2019
• Joe Salerno – 2021–2022
• Javier Juárez Crespo – 2022–present

Kit

Manufacturer

2017–present: Adidas^[12]

See also

• Syria national under-19 basketball team
• Syria national under-17 basketball team
• Syria women's national basketball team