Balkman, Barefield, Kouame beef up Tiu’s team
FORMER National Basketball Association player Renaldo Balkman, Filipino-american Sedrick Barefield and naturalized center Ange Kouame beef up the Strong Group-philippines in its initial foray in the Dubai International Championship next month.
A many-time member of Puerto Rican national team, Balkman is no stranger to Dubai’s annual tournament having played a key role in Mighty Sports’ title win in the 2020 edition—a feat that brought pride to the Filipino community in the United Arab Emirates.
If ever, this could be the 38-year-old Balkman’s swan song, and coach Charles Tiu is looking forward to another triumphant partnership with the former Philippine Basketball Association import.
“I’ve had two championships with Balk [Balkman], and I want to try to keep rolling,” said Tiu, who was the same coach who steered Mighty Sports to victory the last time. “He says he’s been in shape and is very eager to come back to the Philippines to come finish his legacy here.”
Tiu, who guided College of Saint Benilde back to the recent National Collegiate Athletic Association Finals for the first time in two decades, said Kouame and Barefield will provide youthful exuberance while Balkman and former Golden State Warriors player Nick Young are expected to give the team leadership.
Team manager Jacob Lao and Tiu are both excited to have the 6-foot-3 Barefield and Kouame on the team.
“We are very thankful to Gilas and the SBP [Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas] for allowing us to borrow Ange in this tournament,” said the 22-year-old Lao. “He’s my teammate and we just won in Ateneo, and hopefully we can win one more together.”
According to Tiu, Barefield, who went undrafted in the in the 2019 NBA Draft, is a good catch because of his versatility.