Mighty Sports thrashes Iraqis to enter semis

MIGHTY Sports Philippines banked on balanced attack as it torched Al Nift Oil Sports Club of Iraq, 108- 94, clinching a semifinal spot in the 30th Dubai International Basketball Championship at the Shabab Al Ahli Club in United Arab Emirated on Thursday night (Friday morning in Manila).

Justin Brownlee led four other players in double- digit scoring, powering Mighty Sports to the final four.

Brownlee, who hurt his knee in the previous game, showed no sign of injury as the PBA import exploded with a game-high 26 points on top of eight rebounds, seven assists and two blocks.

University of the Philippines star guard Juan Gomez De Liaño delivered big with 21 points anchored on five triples while Fil- Am wingman Jeremiah Gray racked up 20 markers highlighted by six triples.

Gomez de Liaño and Gray paced the Filipino ball club’s 48-point output from beyond the arc.

Fil- Am forward Roosevelt Adams chipped in 19 points even as American center Randolph Morris drilled in a double- double of 16 markers and 11 boards.

Behind the trio of Gomez De Liaño, Gray and Adams, Mighty erected a 23-point lead, 85-62, late in the third quarter.

But Al Nift unloaded a nine-point run to trim the gap down to 92-98 with 3:32 remaining in the game.

Brownlee, via playmaker Jason Brickman’s assists, hit timely baskets to keep the Iraqi club at bay.

The Charles Tiu- coached Mighty is playing against Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut in the semifinals at press time.

The Lebanese team beat the Filipino squad, 95-100, in 2017.