Game today:
(Al-Nasr Stadium)
11:15 p.m. — Strong Group vs UAE
The time has come for Strong Group Athletics to strut its stuff as it takes on the United Arab Emirates national team in the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship at the Al Nasr Stadium in Dubai on Friday.
Tipoff is at 11:15 p.m. (Manila time) as former National Basketball Association player Dwight Howard formally makes his long-awaited debut for the squad after weeks of preparation.
Strong Group is in Group B with UAE, Al-Wahda Damascus of Syria, Lebanon’s Homenetmen Beirut and Beirut Club.
The squad is aiming to do better than its previous campaign last year after a 97-107 quarterfinal exit against Wael Arakji and Al Riyadi Club Beirut of Lebanon.
Strong Group landed in Dubai last Thursday and will have a short time to adjust before facing the Emiratis in their first match of the tournament.
The team will be bannered by National Basketball Association veterans Andre Roberson, McKenzie Moore, Andray Blatche and Howard, who was a part of the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.
“Landed in Dubai. See you guys. Hope you can support @stronggroupathl !! We play the (UAE) national team at 7:15 pm tomorrow!” Tiu said in a social media post.
Strong Group will also be backed by young Filipino stars led by De La Salle University stars Francis Escandor and University Athletic Association of the Philippines Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao, College of Saint Benilde standouts Justine Sanchez, Tony Ynot and Allen Liwag with JD Cagulangan, Justine Baltazar and Jordan Heading helping out the team.
Initially, Strong Group opted to go for former TNT Tropang Giga player Mikey Williams but went radio silent as team manager Jacob Lao said he was not responding to them.
“We really don’t know what happened (why he suddenly backed out). Everything was in place, and we agreed to almost everything he wanted,” Lao said.
“At first, he agreed to the price. Then he asked for a specific time frame for his arrival. However, he just didn’t show up at our practice when everybody was expecting him to, including former NBA stars and starters.”
Tiu will have a deep think tank in his coaching staff with six-time National Basketball League champion and Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Brian Goorjian of Australia, Green Archers mentor and University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 champion Topex Robinson and Philippine Basketball Association champion and former Blazers coach TY Tang.
The Strong Group tactician made sure they had the best minds available to help them go deep in the tournament.
“I just wanted to make sure coaching won’t be a problem this time and I’m confident it won’t be,” Tiu said.
“He (Goorjian) wanted to come out to help and he said he wanted to support me and help me grow as a coach and I’m very thankful. Coach Topex has also been very big. He has been doing the little things and he’s always in my ear and giving suggestions.
Strong Group will be up against a UAE side coming off a good run in the Arab Nations Cup earlier this month as the team made it as far as the semifinal.
DeMarco Dickerson, a United States-born playmaker who played in the NBA G League, will be a marked man after carrying the Emiratis after averaging 21.7 points and five rebounds in the Arab Nations Cup.
Despite a stacked roster that has NBA veterans on board, Tiu said the team needs to polish up before its first game as they scout the teams in the tournament.
