Given below are two statements : one is labelled as Assertion A and other is labelled as Reason R:

Assertion A : The binding energy of metallic lithium exceeds that of the $$Li_{2}$$ molecule through the Li-Li distance in the metal (3.03) is significantly larger than in the diatomic $$Li_{2}$$ molecule (2.67 A).

Reason R : The bonds in the metal are weaker, but there are more Li-Li bonds in the metal.

In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below: