BEIRUT, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon failed to qualify for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China this summer after losing to South Korea 84-72 on Sunday.
Having claimed only one victory in the first five Group E games, a win over South Korea was the only hope Lebanon had of landing a berth in the finals.
Several notable figures from Lebanon's political, military and sporting world attended the game at the Nouhad Nawfal stadium in Jounieh, along with 8,000 cheering fans.
Lebanon had a big opening quarter to lead 29-18. But South Korea managed to tie the game 61-61 in the third quarter before Lebanon advanced again by two points at the end of the third half to make the scores 64-62.
South Korea raised their game in the fourth quater, allowing Lebanon to score only eight points and clinching a 84-72 win.
With the victory, South Korea advanced into the finals of the World Cup together with New Zealand, Jordan, Australia, Japan and Iran.
The 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup will be held in China from August 21 to September 15.
