FIBA U16 Asia Cup: India Lose 73–95 to Lebanon in Opener
The Young Cagers were guilty of conceding too many offensive rebounds, while also turning the ball over 33 times, and hitting just one three-pointer in the entire game.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, August 31 2025: It was a frustrating morning for India at the Buyant Ukhaa Sport Complex, losing to Lebanon 73-95 in their U16 Asia Cup opener.
Early on, India kept itself within touching distance, but Lebanon’s relentless offensive rebounding and much higher shot attempts broke the game wide open.
Close First Half
India stayed competitive through the first 20 minutes, trailing 34-40 at halftime.
At the beginning of the third quarter, the Young Cagers even led 45-43 thanks to Krishna Suneriya’s lone 3pt jump shot.
However, the team’s familiar flaws soon came back to haunt them.
Familiar Flaws
Poor transition defense, weak boxing out, and a predictable 2-3 zone defense saw Lebanon pull ahead in the final 15 minutes.
Lebanon’s energy and extra possessions overwhelmed India, with a 34-point explosion in the fourth quarter sealing the deal.
Lebanon Turns Turnovers Into Launchpad
From the outset, India’s inability to get back in transition left them exposed. Lebanon capitalized on this weakness, converting turnovers into easy baskets.
While both teams were guilty of sloppy ball-handling, Lebanon’s ability to turn defense into offense proved decisive. Of India’s 33 turnovers, 22 came directly from Lebanon's steals.
But if one stat summed up the story of this game, it was on the offensive glass.
Lebanon snatched 32 offensive rebounds, compared to India’s 14, producing a wave of second-chance scoring opportunities. That dominance translated into 107 total field goal attempts for Lebanon, while India managed only 77.
The irony?
India was actually slightly more efficient with its shooting, hitting 37.7% from the field compared to Lebanon’s 36.5%. However, with 30 fewer shots, India never gave itself a chance to keep up.
Defensively, India’s continued reliance on a 2-3 zone left Lebanon’s shooters with too much space. The result was a crushing +27 advantage from the three-point line.
India, meanwhile, went ice-cold from deep, a forgettable 1-of-14.
Next up for India is Australia, a powerhouse in youth basketball and a four-time defending champion.
If the Young Cagers fail to address their shortcomings on both ends of the floor, the Crocs won’t just beat them, they’ll swallow them whole.
India (Shekhar Rathee 19 pts, 7 reb; Arman 14 pts, 5 reb, 6 stl; Ansh Tomer 12 pts, 15 reb) lose to Lebanon (Johnny Sawma 34 pts, 7 reb, 6 stl; Amin Nahle 23 pts, 13 reb; Tony Kiwan 13 pts, 3 ast) 73-95 [20-24, 14-16, 19-21, 20-34]
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