The National Basketball Association veterans of Strong Group Philippines were as good as advertised as the team crushed the United Arab Emirates national team, 82-66, in the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship at the Al-Nasr Club in Dubai early Saturday.
Andre Roberson, who played for the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets, led the way with a double-double-game of 15 points and 16 rebounds while NBA champion Dwight Howard banged in 14 points and grabbed six rebounds in a show of force.
With a 46-40 lead entering the third quarter, Strong Group did not hold back as the team went on a 12-2 run with Roberson capping the run with a layup with three minutes and 27 seconds left in the frame.
A turnaround jumper from College of Saint Benilde’s Allen Liwag in the 7:22 mark of the fourth quarter gave Strong Group its biggest lead of the game, 70-49.
Strong Group bullied its way inside, scoring 50 points in the paint and dropping 20 second-chance points.
The squad also shot 32 easy points from the 18 turnovers committed by UAE.
University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao scored 13 points for Strong Group while former TNT Tropang Giga import McKenzie Moore had 11 points.
Hamid Abdullateef led the UAE with 19 points with United States-born guard Demarco Dickinson drilling in 13 points and seven rebounds.
Former Gilas Pilipinas player Andray Blatche was the only Strong Group Player who didn’t score as he went 0-of-10 from the field but he collared three rebounds, one assist and one block in 23 minutes of action.
Strong Group shares the top spot of Group B with Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya, which defeated Lebanon’s Sports Club Beirut, 81-76.
As of press time, Strong Group is battling Al Wahda Sports Club to try and go for a 2-0 mark in this tournament as they aim for a better finish than last year’s quarterfinal exit.
Last year, Strong Group was knocked out of title contention after taking a 97-107 defeat against Wael Arakji and eventual champion Al Riyadi Club Beirut of Lebanon.
