Dubai: The result of the UAE's exhibition match with Duke University last night at Al Wasl Club didn't matter, but the experience gained from playing one of the USA's most successful collegiate basketball sides of all time will prove invaluable for the UAE heading into the forthcoming Asian and GCC Championships.
Technical director of the UAE's national basketball side Mounir Ben Slimane told Gulf News: "For us it was a great opportunity for our players and it proved to be good exposure for our talent.
"There's a huge difference in culture and tradition between the two sides but we have to move on and be ready for such experiences."
Penciling September 15-25 down for the FIBA Asian Championships in Wuhan China and October 9-10 for the start of the GCC Championships, Ben Slimane has aims to beat 2009's 12 out of 16 positioning in Asia and has further aspirations to win the Gulf competition after.
Having appeared in seven Asian Championships previously, the UAE's best result was fifth in 1997 and worst 16th in 2007. By 2013 they have an aim to break the top eight again.
"The aim is to get to the second round and look for a better ranking in Asia. We're seeking tenth position at least," added Ben Slimane.
Tough task
"Whereas with the Gulf competition we have to be competitive, we must compete for the title. We've won it three times and the last was 2007 in Dubai. Most of the time we face Qatar in the final so it's very much between us and them."
Having spent the last few weeks on tour in China and Taipei facing a gruelling 15 games in 17 days and all while fasting through the month of Ramadan, Ben Slimane denies the team is going in overtired, despite the loss of best player Talal Salim to cruciate ligament damage. "It's been very tough but good, to be honest we've had more games than practice so now we need to catch up in Turkey after Eid with our practice camp.," said Ben Slimane.
"We needed the games but now we need to focus on fine tuning, conditioning, fitness and synchronising the team in training.
"We have a mixture of experience with four rookies so it's been a good opportunity to start rebuilding the team, slowing aiming for a good show in the Gulf and Asia."
Players integral to the cause will be Rashid Nasr, Latif Mohammad, Ali Abbas and Ahmad Ebrahim, according to Ben Slimane, especially after Talal's injury.
