ALLAN THE MAN

The finals of the FIBA Asia Champions Cup has been postponed because of the worsening security situation in Beirut, Lebanon.

FIBA Asia confirmed the development in a news item on its website. Al Riyadi Beirut of Lebanon and Mahram of Iran had been scheduled to play in the final match. “FIBA Asia will take a decision on holding the Final Game of the event very soon,” said the organization’s secretary-general Hagop Khajirian.

On Monday, at least seven people were killed and dozens were injured in clashes in Beirut stemming from conflict related to the civil war in neighboring Syria.

FIBA Asia had earlier announced that it was using the Champions Cup to assess the capability of Lebanon to host next year’s Asian championship, which serves as qualifier for the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Lebanon beat out the Philippines for the bid to host the FIBA Asia Championship.

But the regional cage body told Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas that the country was its backup option should Lebanon prove to be incapable of hosting the event.

“There’s still a chance,” SBP executive director Sonny Barrios earlier said. “We’re still keeping an open mind about the hosting of the FIBA Asia Championship, but we’ve set a time table for this.”

Barrios said the SBP has set a November 30 deadline to make a final decision on whether to award the hosting for next year’s tournament to the Philippines.

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