Mighty Sports out of the running in Dubai tourney

PHILIPPINE TEAM Mighty Sports absorbed its fourth defeat in as many games at the 28th Dubai International Basketball Championship yesterday, bowing to Lebanese side Homenetmen, 100-93, that effectively shut down its hopes of advancing to the next round.

Despite getting good contributions from former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) stalwarts Gary David and Willie Miller, Mighty Sports still could not go over the proverbial hump, playing catch-up nearly throughout the contest before slumping to the loss.

Mighty Sports, composed of local pro players and amateur standouts and backstopped by foreign imports, trailed 26-19 at the end of the first period.

Homenetmen continued to take it to the Philippine team thereafter behind the efforts of imports Mike Taylor and Kevin Galloway and Lebanese star Fadi El Khatib, establishing its biggest lead of 18 points, 81-63, with a little over seven minutes left in the match.

Barangay Ginebra champion import Justin Brownlee, Messrs. David and Miller tried to bring back their team but Mighty Sports could only come close by five points, 96-91, with 1:10 to go before Homenetmen scored a couple of more baskets to register the win.

Mr. Brownlee top-scored with 20 points, to go along with six rebounds and three assists, for Mighty Sports, which at 0-4 has been eliminated in the running of the annual basketball tournament.

Messrs. David and Miller finished with 19 and 17 points, respectively. The two PBA legends combined for six-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc.

Homenetmen’s Taylor, who once played for the Los Angeles Clippers in the National Basketball Association, had a game-high 29 points while Mr. Galloway had 20.

Mr. El Khatib wound up with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Mighty Sports finishes its Dubai stint against Al Riyadi of Lebanon today and Ball Above All tomorrow.

The Charles Tiu-coached Mighty Sports is composed of Messrs, Brownlee, David, Miller, Kiefer Ravena, Hashim Thabeet, Jeron Teng, Dominic McGuire, Beau Belga, JC Intal, Marcus Douthit, Chris Tiu and Ryan Araña. —