- 01:55
The 2025 National Basketball Day kicks off in style at the iconic Nouhad Nawfal Stadium! The atmosphere is electric as fans from all over the country gather to celebrate the sport they love. Throughout the day, basketball stars representing every team in the Lebanese Basketball League come together for an unforgettable showcase of talent and entertainment.
From gravity-defying dunks to clutch three-pointers, the action never stops with thrilling contests that keep the crowd on their feet. The highlight of the event? A star-studded All-Star Game featuring the league’s biggest names, wrapping up the day with high energy and unmatched flair. It’s more than just a celebration — it’s a full-on festival of Lebanese basketball.
Three-Point Heat
The event tipped off with the women’s three-point contest, where Sandra Beddawi and Ukrainian player Olesia Malashenko both advanced to the finals after scoring 14 points. Malashenko clinched the win with an impressive 19-point performance in the second round.
In the Lebanese men’s contest, Kevork Kevork, Patrick Bou Abboud, Abed Sabbagh and Georges-Yves Daaboul reached the final round. Homenetmen’s young rising star Kevork emerged victorious, consistently scoring 19 points in both rounds to secure the title.
NSA’s Daniel Hamilton shined in the foreign men’s category, matching the top score with 19 points of his own.
Interestingly, all three winners—Lebanese women, Lebanese men and foreign men—reached a high mark of 19 points, setting the bar for this year’s competition.
Airborne Action
Later in the dunk contest, McLean stole the show with a jaw-dropping performance, earning an incredible 99 out of 100 points across both rounds—nearly a perfect score.
Sagesse’s Omar Jamaleddine secured second place, finishing as the highest-ranked Lebanese player in the competition. Hoops’ Karim Ouweidat also delivered a standout dunk, adding to the challenge for the judges.
The panel of judges featured coaches Ahmad Farran, Ghassan Sarkis, Jad El-Hajj and Sabah Khoury, along with Riyadi star Thon Maker.
Triple Threat Shootout
A few days before the event, a player draft was held, allowing the four featured coaches to build their own all-star squads from across different teams. These teams faced off in two semi-finals, with the winners advancing to a final showdown. The format was simple: the first team to reach 40 points moved on.
The opening semi-final featured teams led by Ghassan Sarkis and Jad El-Hajj. The game turned into a three-point shootout, with both teams showing high energy and determination. With just one point needed to seal the win, Karim Zeinoun drained his fifth three-pointer of the game, sending El-Hajj’s squad to the final with a 42–38 victory.
In the second semi-final, Ahmad Farran’s team took on Sabah Khoury’s lineup. Despite having star guard Wael Arakji, Khoury’s squad couldn’t keep up with Farran’s team, powered by a standout performance from Omar Jamaleddine. The game ended 41–26 in Farran’s favor.
The final saw El-Hajj and Farran go head-to-head in a tightly contested matchup. Midway through, El-Hajj’s team began to pull away. A thunderous dunk from veteran Ismail Ahmad electrified the crowd, and Karim Zeinoun closed it out again with the final shot—securing the win for Coach Jad El-Hajj.
It was a day filled with fun, energy and great basketball spirit. Despite the friendly setting, the players brought real intensity and passion to the court, putting on a show while staying true to the competitive nature of the game.
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