MANILA, Philippines – Another game, another victory for Strong Group Athletics.
Despite already being assured of a quarterfinal spot, Strong Group showed no signs of slowing down in the Dubai International Basketball Championship as it completed a 4-0 sweep of the group stage following an 84-75 rout of the Amman United Club on Wednesday, January 29 (Thursday, January 30, Manila time).
For the fourth game in a row, Strong Group was led by one of its former NBA players as Malachi Richardson delivered a game-high 24 points on 6-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc, as well as the crucial baskets for the Philippine squad down the stretch.
With the Filipinos already ahead by its largest at 17 points early in the fourth, a late surge by the Jordanians got them back to within just 6, 75-69, with 3:58 to play.
A layup by Richardson at the 3:39 mark finally ended Strong Group’s drought, before Amman’s Fadi Mustafa countered with a quick basket to make it a two possession game anew, 77-71.
On target from beyond the arc all game long, Richardson then sealed the deal for Strong Group with a booming trey with 2:22 left as it stretched their lead back to 9, 80-71.
Coming off a quiet 6-point performance in their previous win, Chris McCullough backstopped his fellow import Richardson with an all-around showing of 19 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals, while Rhenz Abando supplied 12 markers on an efficient 5-of-7 field goal clip.
On the other side, Mustafa topscored for Amman with 20 points, while former PBA import Henry Sims posted a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds in the loss.
After securing the top spot in Group A, Strong Group takes on Al Sharjah — which ranked fourth in Group B — in the knockout quarterfinals on Friday, January 31 at 1 am, Manila time.
Valientes go home winless
In polar opposite to Strong Group, the Zamboanga Valientes wrapped up their Dubai International Basketball Championship campaign in Group B with a 0-4 slate after a 95-59 beating at the hands of the Tunisia National Team on Thursday.
Zamboanga — which officially crashed out of playoff contention following a 90-65 loss to Sagesse on Wednesday — had no answers for Tunisia from start to finish as the latter already jumped out to a double-digit advantage just 7 minutes into the ball game.
The Tunisians continued to pounce on the hapless Valientes throughout the contest, even leading by as many as 42 points late in the fourth, 93-51.
Zamboanga’s 7-foot-5 import Sam Deguara racked up 16 points and 12 rebounds, UST star Nic Cabañero produced 14 markers, while former Barangay Ginebra big man Prince Caperal scored 13 for the Valientes in the lopsided affair.
The Scores
Strong Group 84 – Richardson 24, McCullough 19, Abando 12, Williams 7, Brickman 6, Kouame 6, Ildefonso 5, Blatche 3, Cousins 2, Ynot 0, Sanchez 0, Liwag 0.
Amman 75 – Mustafa 20, Sims 15, Allen 14, Alhamarsheh 10, Hawwas 6, Qarmash 4, Al Shiyyab 4, Albabeish 2.
Quarters: 23-15, 42-34, 66-53, 84-75.
Tunisia 95 – Methnani 17, Abada 15, Jawadi 10, Slimane 10, Ghayaza 7, Yahia 7, Lahiani 7, Chennoufi 6, Al Jaziri 5, Chander 5, Saada 4, Seyeh 2.
Zamboanga 59 – Deguara 16, Cabañero 14, Caperal 13, Padrigao 7, Thomas 5, Alcantara 2, Cadiz 2, Tolomia 0, Jimenez 0, Lingganay 0, Diouf 0, Esa 0.
Quarters: 25-16, 43-28, 70-45, 95-59.
– Rappler.com