AMMAN (FIBA Asia Cup 2017) - Sam Daghlas is a man driven by results. Results have defined his career on the court both for Jordan and for his various other teams over the years.

With Daghlas as Al Nashama's lead playmaker, the team reached unprecedented heights in the past decade, climaxing in the FIBA Asia Championship 2011 in Wuhan, China, where Jordan finished just shy of the title.

In 2009, Daghlas was also a huge part of the squad that gave Jordan their first podium finish in FIBA Asia Championship history. Additionally, that result qualified them for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2010 in Turkey, where the West Asian side finished 23rd overall.

Recently, however, Jordan haven't had much luck on the international stage. In 2013, Jordan were knocked-out in the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA Asia Championship in Manila. They rebounded in the FIBA Asia Cup 2014 on home soil with a top five finish, but they tumbled again in the FIBA Asia Championship 2015 when they failed to land in the top eight for the first time since 2003.

Daghlas is quick to describe how, at times, the national team’s shortcomings stem from many factors, not least of which is a lack of urgency.

"Sometimes, I feel like there is not enough urgency," Daghlas says. "As a coach or player, it is very hard to work like this as everyone expects the coaches and players to sacrifice and win games."

Last year, though, with Daghlas finally taking the coaching reigns of the team, Al Nashama returned to the podium, finishing 3rd in the FIBA Asia Challenge 2016. Jordan recorded 6 wins in 8 games, including a 74-63 win over West Asia rivals Iraq to secure their place in the top three.

Despite his obvious effect on the outcome, Daghlas is quick to deflect the praise to the other members of the national team.

"I had a great coaching staff along my side that I can count on," he says. "We worked to build a system that fits the players' style of play and skill set."

Daghlas is hoping to wield more of that magic this year, when Jordan take on even bigger challenges in the West Asia Basketball Association (WABA) Championship 2017 later this month, the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 in August and the first window of qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in November. The iconic former Jordanian floor general hopes that he can still tap on the overflowing talent present in his country for the battles ahead.

"We have talent here in Jordan, and Jordanians love basketball," he beams. "It is a popular sport, and our fans know and understand the game well."

Of course, it goes without saying that Daghlas, whose brightest moment was, arguably, rallying Jordan to overhaul a halftime deficit over defending champions Iran in the FIBA Asia Championship 2011 Quarter-Finals, is anxious and aching to get a better degree of support for the national cause. He believes Jordan are capable of accomplishing mighty deeds provided they get enough backing.

"They understand that we can accomplish big things here," he says. "If we follow the long term plan towards qualifying to the FIBA World Cup, without putting stoppage and delays to the program, I believe we have a very good shot at being in China come the World Cup 2019."

Those are fighting words from a man who, clearly, still has a lot of fight left in him.

FIBA