Courtside Global

Antonine delivered a strong statement on Tuesday afternoon, cruising past Batroun 102–65 in Round 16 of the Decathlon Lebanese Basketball Championship. From the opening tip, Antonine imposed their tempo, built an early cushion, and never looked back on their way to a comfortable home victory. But beyond the final scoreline, this game deserves a deeper look. Batroun entered the matchup severely short-handed. The team suited up with only two imports, while their starting center Ruot was sidelined with injury. Against one of the most organized teams in the league, the task was always going to be uphill. Antonine took full advantage. Balanced Attack from Antonine Antonine moved the ball beautifully all night, finishing with 30 assists and shooting nearly 58% from the field. Their offense flowed through multiple creators and finishers, making it impossible for Batroun to load up on any single player. Leading the way: • G. Cosey – 21 points, 11 assists, 2 rebounds • E. Chamoun – 17 points, 8...

 Another exciting day of action at the Dubai Basketball Championship delivered three very different games — a blowout, a physical battle, and a high-scoring thriller. Here’s a full breakdown of today’s results and the players who stood out. Al Ittihad 112 – Homs Al Fidaa 89 Al Ittihad sent a clear message with a dominant performance against Homs Al Fidaa, controlling the tempo from start to finish and pulling away comfortably. The star of the game was Z. Lofton, who was simply unstoppable: • Z. Lofton – 40 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists • J. Samuel – 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists • M. Sadi – 18 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists • A. Rizq – 17 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists For Homs Al Fidaa, there were strong individual efforts despite the loss: • T. Al-Jabi – 27 points • M. Burwell – 24 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists • O. Sheikh Ali – 18 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists Al Ittihad’s depth and balance were the difference, with multiple players contributing across the board. Club Africai...

 Three years away from competitive basketball. A devastating injury that many labeled “career-ending.” Silence. Doubt. Question marks. And now? Elie Chamoun is back — and he looks like he never left. Not only is he back. He is producing. He is efficient. He is impacting games. Quietly, steadily, and with authority. At 24 minutes per game for Antonieh this season, Chamoun is averaging: • 13.1 points per game • 45% from three-point range (21/47) • 50% on two-pointers • 3.5 rebounds • 1.8 assists These numbers are impressive on their own. They become even more impressive when you remember one thing: This is Elie Chamoun at less than 50% of his physical ceiling. No full offseason. No long rhythm-building period. No extended preparation. Just pure basketball instinct. From National Team Starter to “Career-Ending Injury”… to Resurrection Elie Chamoun is not a random name. He is a former Lebanon National Team player. He represented Lebanon in FIBA Asia Cup 2022, where the team reached the...

As the CFI Jordan Premier League reaches the end of the first round (11 games played for most teams), the picture at the top is becoming clearer — but the race is far from over. We have a dominant leader, a strong chasing pack, and several teams still trying to find consistency. Here’s where things stand and what has defined the season so far. 📊 Current Standings (Top 8) • 1️⃣ Al Faisaly (11–0) – 22 pts • 2️⃣ Amman United (10–1) – 21 pts • 3️⃣ Al Wehdat (5–5) – 15 pts • 4️⃣ Al Jubaiha (5–5) – 15 pts • 5️⃣ Al Inglizia (3–8) – 14 pts • 6️⃣ Al Ashrafieh (3–8) – 14 pts • 7️⃣ Al Jaleel (3–7) – 13 pts • 8️⃣ Shabab Bushra (2–8) – 12 pts Al Faisaly have been nothing short of dominant. Eleven wins from eleven games, a +302 point differential, and the best offense in the league so far. They look organized, confident, and built to win now. Amman United remain right behind them, posting excellent numbers of their own (+324 differential) and showing balance on both ends of the floor. From third pl...

Lebanese women’s basketball enters a new chapter as Eleni Kapogianni, the experienced Greek coach, takes the helm of the Lebanon Women’s National Team. Eleni is not just another name on a resume — she is a coach with deep roots in European women’s basketball and a proven history of building disciplined, competitive teams. Born in Greece in 1969, she has coached some of the country’s biggest clubs, including Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, leading Olympiacos to undefeated league and cup titles in consecutive seasons. Her career later expanded internationally, with coaching experiences in Lebanon, China, and most recently with the Iran Women’s National Team, giving her a rare blend of European structure and international adaptability. What makes this appointment particularly exciting is not only her résumé, but her philosophy. Eleni is known as a coach who emphasizes: • Team identity and discipline • Player development over shortcuts • Tactical clarity on both ends of the floor • Strong lo...

In many basketball countries, finding a true center is a luxury. In Jordan, it’s becoming a strength. While some federations spend years searching for a naturalized big man, Jordan quietly owns a growing pipeline of young local centers with size, youth, and national eligibility. What’s missing is not talent. What’s missing is a clear long-term plan to develop, track, and protect this resource. This is not about one player. This is about building a system. Why This Matters • The center position remains one of the most impactful roles in international basketball • Good size cannot be taught — development can • Relying on naturalized players blocks local growth • Jordan already has depth at this position… organically Instead of asking “Who can we naturalize?”, maybe it’s time to ask: How do we build our own giants? A Rare Generation of Size Below is a group of young Jordanian big men, all holding Jordanian nationality, with heights based on official sources or player-reported data: • Qusa...

Al Ittihad put on an impressive show in Dubai, pulling away early and never looking back on their way to a convincing 112–89 win over Homs Al Fidaa. From the opening minutes, the pace, physicality, and shot-making all tilted in one direction. This was not a one-man show. It was a full team performance, highlighted by a superstar night from Z. Lofton and strong contributions across the roster. ⭐ The Star of the Night • Z. Lofton (Al Ittihad) 40 points | 6 rebounds | 2 assists Lofton was simply unguardable. He scored at all three levels, attacked mismatches, and punished every defensive coverage. Whenever Homs tried to make a run, Lofton had an answer. 🔥 Al Ittihad’s Supporting Cast Stepped Up • M. Sadi 18 points | 9 rebounds | 7 assists Did a little bit of everything and came close to a triple-double. • J. Samuel 18 points | 5 rebounds | 4 assists Consistent scoring and strong defensive effort. • A. Rizq 17 points | 15 rebounds | 5 assists Absolute force inside. Controlled the boards a...