Strong Group bows to Dynamo-Lebanon in Dubai tournament

STRONG Group failed to sustain its winning run and went ice cold on its offense in the last three minutes of the game to fall short against powerhouse DynamoLebanon 89-83 at the close of the group stage play of the 32nd Dubai International Basketball Championship early Thursday at the Al-Nasr Club Hall in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

American import Cleanthony Early dropped six three pointers, including two big ones that allowed the Lebanese five to go ahead for good at 86-81. In the process, Dynamo-Lebanon handed the Philippines’ representative here its first loss after opening the tournament with three straight wins in Group A.

NBA veteran Shabazz Muhammad led Strong Group with 25 points and nine boards, but the former Minnesota Timberwolves gunner failed to buy a basket at crunch time, visibly affected by Dynamo’s solid defense.

“It was a tough loss, led 60 percent of the game but fell short in the last few minutes,” said Strong Group head coach Charles Tiu, as he pointed to Dynamo’s tenacious defense that led to the team’s first defeat.

The loss dropped Strong Group to an early quarterfinals collision with another powerhouse squad in Al-Riyadi, the same team Mighty Sports defeated in the 2020 championship game here.

The match against Al-Riyadi is set on Friday morning.

Al-Riyadi finished third in Group B with a 2-1 card, but remains a potent squad considering it is bannered by several national team players led by Wael Arakji, Amir Saoud and Hayk Gyokchan. The team also banners former NBA second round draft pick AJ Majok.

Jerom Lastimosa, despite facing taller and heftier guards, contributed 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field while Nick Young, who is nursing a knee injury, added 11 for Strong Group.

Renaldo Balkman, who was not feeling well, contributed 10 points and nine rebounds.