Strong Group opens Dubai campaign vs UAE national team

Strong Group Athletics is set to begin its campaign in the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship against the United Arab Emirates national team today at the Al Nasr Club.

The game will start at 11:15 p.m. (Manila time) and the Philippine representative, under the guidance of Charles Tiu, are aiming for a strong start in their redemption tour following their quarterfinal exit in the previous edition.

In Group B, the teams standing in the way of Strong Group aside from UAE are Lebanon’s Beirut Sports Club and Homenetmen, Syria’s Al Wahda, and Libya’s Al Ahly Tri Sports Club.

In Group A, the reigning champion Al Riyadi, led by Wael Arakji, who is a key player in the Lebanon national team and the MVP of the FIBA Asia Cup, is joined by the Tunisia national team, Morocco’s As Sale, Libya’s Al Ahly Benghazi, UAE’s Al Nasr, and another Lebanese club Sagesse.

“It’s gonna be a stacked competition. Modesty aside, we definitely want to win the championship,” said Tiu, who will be assisted by consultant Brian Goorjian, Topex Robinson and TY Tang.

Dwight Howard, an NBA champion and three-time Defensive Player of the Year recipient, has been chosen to lead the team in his first experience with a Philippine team.

Joining him on the frontline are the Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Andray Blatche, former OKC Thunder guard Andre Roberson, and experienced import McKenzie Moore.

Strong Group, owned by Frank and Jacob Lao, has a strong local crew including UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao, MPBL MVP Justine Baltazar, and Gilas sniper Jordan Heading.

Francis Escandor of La Salle, JD Cagulangan of the University of the Philippines, and Allen Liwag, Justine Sanchez, and Tony Ynot of St. Benilde round out the squad.

Strong Group, which lost to Al Riyadi in the quarterfinals last year to the tune of 106-97, is hoping to achieve the same success as Mighty Sports Philippines which become the first non-Middle Eastern team to win the title. They did the trick in 2020.