Asian runner-up Lebanon crashed out of the quarter-finals of the Doha Asian Games men's basketball tournament after suffering its third straight defeat 86-72 in Doha on Friday against Chinese Taipei.
Later on Friday, former NBA player Wang Zhizhi scored 30 points to lead China to rout a stubborn Japanese side 94-68 for its fourth straight victory.
Coming into the tournament as a strong title contender, Lebanese only managed one win in four tries in round-robin play of Group B. Even if Lebanon beats China in the last round clash on Sunday, it will be unable to clinch a top four finish from the group.
"We are disappointed with the result, but we know we are here just to represent Lebanon. We did not prepare for this Asian Games, we have our coach missing, we have only practiced three times before coming here," said Fadi El Khatib, who did not play in the first half due to back injury before scoring 15 for Lebanon in the second.
"Bad luck for us, but I promise we will come back to the Olympics (qualification tournament) next year. We know we can do better, three months ago we beat France and Venezuela at the World Championship. We have to show everybody next year this (team) is not Lebanon, Lebanon is better than this," Khatib added.
With Khatib, who averaged 26.7 points per game for Lebanon in its first three games, sitting on the bench, Chinese Taipei shot 9- for-19 from beyond the arc in the first two quarters for a 50-33 lead at the half time.
Khatib took to the court after the game resumed to lead Lebanon pull within 54-45 amid the third quarter, but Chinese Taipei pulled away again through a 11-2 run.
Lebanon managed to cut its deficit to 81-70 with less than two minutes to go, but that's too late.
"I have injured my back in our second game against Japan, today I was playing with a lot of pain," said Khatib. "My doctor told me not to play, but for my country I will do whatever. I did this for my country, for the fans, for the coach and for the players."
In a game between two previously unbeaten teams, the 2.16-meter Wang had a game-high 14 rebounds and four steals and added one block as the Chinese secured a top finish from Group B and a berth in the quarter-finals with one game in hand.
"I did not find my touch in the last two games, but I got it today. I also tried to play more inside game, just as the coach told me to do," said the 29-year-old veteran.
"I am in good shape, I have no injury now, hopefully I can play better and better in the next games," Wang added.
"Wang is a very good player and he made great trouble for us," said Kosuke Takeuchi, who contributed 12 points for Japan.
The Chinese built a 50-33 lead amid the second quarter after scoring 10 points in a row. But the Japanese made four consecutive three-pointers to pull within 56-50, only to see China surge away again with nine straight points to make it 65-50.
"Our opponent played really well today and sometimes they make consecutive three pointers. That made it difficult for us," said China head coach Jonas Kazlauskas.
"Late in the game, we found our rhythm and played better defense and closed the game strongly," he added.
Japan was held to nil point in the last five minutes and 55 seconds while China closed the scoring with a 14-0 run.
"It's very difficult to defend against the Chinese team, which is much bigger than us, and every player got tired in the fourth quarter," said Japan head coach Kimikazu Suzuki.
Despite the loss, Japan has collected a 3-1 record and secured a top four finish from the group and a place in the quarter-finals.
Earlier on Friday, Kazakhstan outscored Uzbekistan 100-77 to join China, Japan and Chinese Taipei in the quarter-finals.