Roy Samaha
{{Short description|Lebanese basketball player (born 1984)}}
{{update|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| image =
| caption =
| number = 10
| position = Center
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 9
| weight_lb = 256
| weight_kg = 116
| league=
| team =Free Agent
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|09|12}}
| birth_place = Zahlé, Lebanon
| nationality = Lebanese
| career_start = 2000
| width =600
| years1 = 1999–2004
| team1 = Club Sagesse
| years2= 2004–2007
| team2 = Blue Stars
| years3= 2007–2009
| team3 = Al Mouttahed Tripoli
| years4 = 2009–2010
| team4 = Club Sagesse
| years5 = 2010–2012
| team5 = Anibal Zahle
| years6= 2012–2013
| team6 = Al Mouttahed Tripoli
| years7= 2013–2015
| team7 = Al Riyadi
| years8= 2015–2016
| team8 = Club Sagesse
| years9= 2016–2017
| team9 = Al Riyadi
| years10= 2018
| team10 = CS Antonine
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Men's Basketball}}
{{MedalCountry | {{LIB}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | FIBA Asia Championship}}
{{MedalSilver | 2007 Tokushima |Team}}
}}
Roy Nicolas Samaha (born 12 September 1984 in Zahlé) is a retired (from the 1st division) Lebanese professional basketball player. He was a key player in the Lebanon national basketball team and participated lately in the 2006 FIBA World Championship,FIBA Asia Championship 2007 and FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men 2008.[https://web.archive.org/web/20071228091927/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/06_wcm/teamPlay/play/p/eventid/3507/langlc/en/playernumber/42296/roundid/4742/fe_teamPlay_playStat.html Player biography] fiba.com
Early years
Samaha started his basketball career in 2000 when he was recruited by Sagesse, one of the leading basketball teams in Lebanon. He joined Sagesse and made his way to the first team in the end of 1999.{{fact|date=May 2021}}
Professional sports career
=Sagesse (Hekmeh) Years (1999-2004)=
Samaha played with Hekmeh BC (Sagesse) team for 4 consecutive seasons where he helped his team win four Lebanese Basketball League championships, three Lebanese Cups and for the first time in Lebanon's history, two FIBA Asia Champions Cup titles in 2000 and 2004.
=Blue Stars Years (2005-2007)=
Samaha transferred to the Blue Stars team for three consecutive seasons. He played as a starter.{{fact|date=May 2021}}
=Mouttahed (2007-2009)=
Following his time with the Blue Stars, Samaha joined the newly promoted to Division A Al Mouttahed Tripoli team. Samaha averaged 10 points and 10 rebounds a game and led his team to the semi-finals and caused an upset by beating his former team and one of the favorites to win the championship.. Al Mouttahed Tripoli lost in the finals to Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut, which had been unbeaten that season, 3 games to 1.{{fact|date=May 2021}}
=Sagesse (2009-2010)=
After his injury, Samaha rejoined his former team the green castle Hekmeh BC (Sagesse). He finished with 11.5 points per game and about{{vague|date=July 2019}} 10 rebounds per game.{{fact|date=May 2021}}
=Anibal Zahle (2010-2012) =
After a summer with the national team, Samaha joined his city club Anibal Zahle. Anibal Zahle won the Dubai Championship 2011, and the club managed to grab second in the Lebanese Championship after defeating Riyadi.{{fact|date=May 2021}}
=Mouttahed (2012-2013)=
Samaha returned to Mouttahed in 2012 under coach Jean-Denys Choulet.{{Cite web |title=Eurobasket Daily News Report: 8/30/2012 1:04:01 AM |url=https://www.eurobasket.com/reports/2012/8/30.aspx |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=www.eurobasket.com}}
Honors and awards
- Lebanese Cup Winner -01, 02, 03
- Lebanese League Champion -01, 02, 03, 04,15,17
- Asian Club Championships -01, 04(winner), 07 (Quarterfinals)
- Lebanese U18 National Team -01
- West Asian championship (junior) 1st place -01
- Lebanese National Team -02-08
- World Championships -02, 06
- WABA Cup -04
- Lebanese U20 National Team -04
- Asian U20 Championships in Tehran (Iran) - 04
- WABA Championships in Tehran -04
- Lebanese Cup Semifinals -06
- World Championships in Japan -06: 5 games: 4.6ppg, 3.8rpg
- Asian Games in Doha -06
- Lebanese League Finalist -07, 08
- William Jones Cup Tournament -07
- Asia-Basket.com All-Lebanese League Most Improved Player of the Year -08
- Asia-Basket.com All-Lebanese League Honorable Mention -08
Personal
Samaha graduated from the Lebanese American University (Byblos) with high distinction.
Prior to joining Moutahed Tripoli in 2007, Samaha played in France with Paris Basket Racing.[http://www.asia-basket.com/player.asp?Cntry=LEB&PlayerID=33089&AmNotSure=1 Profile] AsiaBasket
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Samaha, Roy}}
Category:Lebanese American University alumni
Category:Lebanese men's basketball players
Category:21st-century Lebanese sportsmen
Category:Basketball players at the 2006 Asian Games
Category:2002 FIBA World Championship players
Category:2006 FIBA World Championship players
Category:Asian Games competitors for Lebanon
Category:Sagesse SC (basketball) players
Category:Al Riyadi Club Beirut basketball players