A brunch was held at the Australian residence of Lebanese Member of Parliament Ihab Mattar, in honor of the Lebanese women’s basketball team, who recently participated in the Asia Cup in Sydney. Mattar, currently serving as an MP for the coastal city of Tripoli, organized the brunch to recognize the team’s achievements. The event featured a wide array of services, including chefs preparing Lebanese delicacies such as manoush, a barista serving coffee, and two bartenders preparing fruit-flavored non-alcoholic drinks.

The formalities of the day were brief, with MP Mattar expressing gratitude to those in attendance, including the basketball team, and commending them for their accomplishments. In response, a team management spokeswoman thanked MP Mattar for the invitation and the attendees for their unwavering support. Subsequently, mingling took place among the crowd, with many approaching the players to express their appreciation for the sport and the athletes.

Despite losses to China, South Korea, and New Zealand, the Lebanese team secured a victory in their seventh-place game against the Chinese Taipei team. Basketball is rapidly gaining popularity in Lebanon, alongside football, as the men’s team has shown improvement in recent years. There is widespread support among the Lebanese for the advancement of the women’s team, aiming to establish them as a formidable force in global basketball competitions.

During discussions with the team players, many expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play such a wonderful sport in a remarkable country like Australia. They all remained optimistic about the team’s future, sharing a common belief that success will be achieved.

The women’s team has yet to make an appearance at the Olympics or World Cup, but this marks their fifth participation in the Asia Cup. Their best performance to date was in 2011, when they secured fifth place.