# Syria men's national basketball team

Syria national basketball team (Arabic: منتخب سوريا لكرة السلة رجال), nicknamed Nosour Qasioun (Qasioun Eagles), represents Syria in international basketball competitions. The squad is governed by SBF, and is part of the FIBA Asia zone. Based on the number of overall medals won, Syria is a major force among basketball teams of WABA and ABC. The team has won eight medals at the WABA Championship and five at the Arab Basketball Championship.
Syria has qualified for the FIBA Asia Cup seven times and one time for EuroBasket throughout their history. Their best tournament result was the 4th place finish at the 2001 FIBA Asia Cup. However, Syria still seeks qualification for their first appearance to the FIBA World Cup and Olympics.

## History

It was created in 1948 and is one of the oldest FIBA Asia teams on the continent, although in its first years of existence it only managed to participate in the Pan Arab Games. Syria participated in the EuroBasket 1949, winning only match out of six against Lebanon.
Its first appearance at the FIBA Asia Championship was at the 1999 edition in Fukuoka, Japan where they finished in eighth place.
The team had its best year in 2001, when it finished in the Final Four of the Asian Basketball Championship in Shanghai, China.
In November 2021, FIBA lifted the ban on Syrian stadiums, which was issued due to the war in the country, and therefore for the first time in 10 years, an international match could take place. It took place on November 29, 2021 at the Al-Fayhaa Sports Arena in Damascus, where a men's basketball team played 2023 FIBA World Cup qualification match against Kazakhstan.
In early December 2021, the Syrian Basketball Federation confirmed Syria's return to the Arab Nations Championship in the UAE which will take place 9 to 16 February 2022. Syria had been absent from the event for ten years because of the Syrian war.

## Competition record
### FIBA Asia Cup

| Year | Position | Pld | W | L |
| Europe |||||
| 1949 | 6th | 6 | 1 | 5 |
| Asia |||||
| 1960 | Part of United Arab Republic | Part of United Arab Republic | Part of United Arab Republic | Part of United Arab Republic |
| 1963 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1965 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1967 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1969 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1971 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1973 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1975 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1977 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1979 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1981 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1983 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1985 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1987 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1989 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1991 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1993 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1995 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1997 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1999 | 8th place | 6 | 1 | 5 |
| 2001 | 4th place | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| 2003 | 9th place | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| 2005 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2007 | 11th place | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| 2009 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2011 | 9th place | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| 2013 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2015 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2017 | 10th place | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 2022 | 12th place | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 2025 | qualified | qualified | qualified | qualified |
| Total | 8/31 | 43 | 17 | 26 |

### FIBA Asia Challenge

| Year | Rank | Pld | W | L |
| 2004 | 4th place | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| 2008 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2010 | 10th place | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2012 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2014 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2016 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| Total | 2/6 | 10 | 2 | 8 |

### West Asian Basketball Championship

| Year | Rank | Pld | W | L |
| 1999 | Champions | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 2000 | Runners-up | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 2001 | Champions | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 2002 | did not enter | – | – | – |
| 2004 | Runners-up | 4 | – | – |
| 2005 | did not enter | – | – | – |
| 2008 | 3rd place | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3rd place | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2011 | 3rd place | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2012 | 4th place | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| 2013 | did not enter | – | – | – |
| 2014 | 3rd place | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 2015 | 4th place | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 2016 | 5th place | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 2017 | 5th place | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| Total | 12/15 | 48 | 19 | 25 |

### Asian Games

| Year | Rank | Pld | W | L |
| 1951 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 1954 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 1958 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 1962 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 1966 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 1970 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 1974 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 1978 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 1982 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 1986 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 1990 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 1994 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 1998 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2002 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2006 | 10th place | 9 | 4 | 5 |
| 2010 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2014 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2018 | 6th place | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 2022 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| Total | 2/18 | 13 | 5 | 8 |

### West Asian Games

| Year | Rank | Pld | W | L |
| 1997 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2002 | 3rd place | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 2005 | 3rd place | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Total | 2/3 | 10 | 6 | 4 |

### Mediterranean Games

| Year | Rank | Pld | W | L |
| 1951 | 7th place | – | – | – |
| 1955 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 1959 | Part of United Arab Republic | Part of United Arab Republic | Part of United Arab Republic | Part of United Arab Republic |
| 1963 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 1967 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 1971 | 5th place | – | – | – |
| 1975 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 1979 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 1983 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 1987 | 5th place | – | – | – |
| 1991 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 1993 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 1997 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2001 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2005 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2009 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2013 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2018 | Replaced by 3x3 Basketball Events | Replaced by 3x3 Basketball Events | Replaced by 3x3 Basketball Events | Replaced by 3x3 Basketball Events |
| 2022 | Replaced by 3x3 Basketball Events | Replaced by 3x3 Basketball Events | Replaced by 3x3 Basketball Events | Replaced by 3x3 Basketball Events |
| Total | 3/17 | - | - | - |

### Arab Championship

| Year | Rank | Pld | W | L |
| 1974 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1975 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1978 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1981 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1983 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1985 | Championship cancelled | Championship cancelled | Championship cancelled | Championship cancelled |
| 1987 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1989 | Withdrew from the tournament | Withdrew from the tournament | Withdrew from the tournament | Withdrew from the tournament |
| 1991 | Runners-up | – | – | – |
| 1992 | Champions | – | – | – |
| 1994 | 3rd place | – | – | – |
| 1997 | Runners-up | – | – | – |
| 1999 | 3rd place | – | – | – |
| 2000 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2002 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2005 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2007 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2008 | 4th place | – | – | – |
| 2009 | 4th place | – | – | – |
| 2010 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2015 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2017 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2018 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2022 | Withdrew from the tournament | Withdrew from the tournament | Withdrew from the tournament | Withdrew from the tournament |
| Total | 7/24 | - | - | - |

### Pan Arab Games

| Year | Rank | Pld | W | L |
| 1953 | Runners-up | – | – | – |
| 1957 | Runners-up | – | – | – |
| 1961 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1965 | 3rd place | – | – | – |
| 1976 | Championship cancelled | Championship cancelled | Championship cancelled | Championship cancelled |
| 1985 | 4th place | – | – | – |
| 1992 | Champions | – | – | – |
| 1997 | Runners-up | – | – | – |
| 1999 | 4th place | – | – | – |
| 2004 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2007 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2011 | Withdrew from the tournament | Withdrew from the tournament | Withdrew from the tournament | Withdrew from the tournament |
| Total | 7/12 | - | - | - |

### Islamic Solidarity Games

| Year | Rank | Pld | W | L |
| 2005 | 7th place | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| 2013 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2017 | Replaced by 3x3 Basketball Events | Replaced by 3x3 Basketball Events | Replaced by 3x3 Basketball Events | Replaced by 3x3 Basketball Events |
| Total | 1/2 | 7 | 3 | 4 |

### EuroBasket 1949

Syria once appeared at the European championships, namely at the Eurobasket 1949, held in Cairo, Egypt. The refusal of the Soviet Union to host the competition and FIBA Europe's unwillingness to ask Czechoslovakia to host consecutive tournaments meant that 1947 bronze medallist Egypt hosted the competition. Due to travel difficulties and fears, few European teams would travel to the African country to compete. Syria, as well as Lebanon, were asked to compete in the European championship despite being Asian countries.
In the seven team round robin tournament, the Syrians finished with a 1–5 record and finished in sixth place.
* Team roster:
4 Shawki, 5 Khayat, 6 Nashawi, 7 Fo. Habash, 8 Abouhitian, 9 Qoudsi, 10 Sharaf, 11 Fe. Habash, 12 Shukri, 13 Nael, 14 Mashnouq, 15 Tinawi

## Team
### Most recent roster

Roster for the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup.

### Past rosters
#### 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualification

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the FIBA Executive Committee decided that for the 2020 November window games will be held at a single venue under a bubble format.
Venue: Al-Gharafa Sports Club Multi-Purpose Hall, Doha
Opposition: Qatar (28 November) Opposition: Iran (30 November)

### 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualification

Opposition: Iran (20 February) Venue: Azadi Basketball Hall, Tehran Opposition: Saudi Arabia (23 February) Venue: King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah
Roster for the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup.
At the 2017 WABA Championship:

### Depth chart

| Pos. | Starting 5 | Bench 1 | Bench 2 |
| C | Kemal Canpolat | Omar Cheikh | |
| PF | Jamil Saddir | Khalel Khori | Yamen Haidar |
| SF | Michael Madanly | Mahmoud Trab | Anthouny Bakar |
| SG | Trey Kell | Wael Jlilaty | |
| PG | Georgi Nazarian | | Sebouh Kharadjian |

## Head coach position

* Pat Elzie – 2003
* Mohamed Abo Sada – 2007
* Imad Othman – 2009
* Hady Darwish – 2010
* Mensur Bajramović – 2011
* Goran Miljević – 2011
* Imad Othman – 2012–2014
* Hady Haj Darwish – 2014–2017
* Nenad Krdžić – 2017
* Veselin Matić – 2017–2019
* Joe Salerno – 2021–2022
* Javier Juárez Crespo – 2022–present

## Kit
### Manufacturer

2017–present: Adidas