Strong Group Athletics breathed a deep sigh of relief after a scary escape of Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya, 91-89, to stay unbeaten in the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship on Thursday at the Al Nasr Club.
Filipino-Australian and Gilas Pilipinas guard Jordan Heading nailed two crucial free throws to give SGA a little breathing room with 18 seconds left before holding on for their fifth win in as many games in Group B.
“That was an unbelievable game. Incredible effort from Libya and just like what Dwight (Howard) said in our huddle, it was all about grit and effort,” Heading said of the team’s fifth game in six days.
“We’re all tired. It’s the fifth game in six days and we just got that one out.”
Heading posted 19 points and five assists as Strong Group finished the elimination round on top of Group B.
Strong Group is still waiting for its opponent in the quarterfinal from Group A.
Strong Group saw its 89-82 lead with 1:22 left in the fourth quarter chopped to only one after Al Ahli unleashed a 6-0 run with just 31 seconds remaining.
Heading then sank his charities as Walter Munoz missed a potential game-tying triple with six seconds left in Al Ahli’s possession. Wadji Oman closed the game with a split from the two free throw line with 0.9 seconds left.
Kevin Quiambao and Howard scored 17 points each while former Oklahoma City Thunder guard Andre Roberson tallied 13 points, five rebounds and three assists for Strong Group.
Naseim Badrush had 27 points in a lost cause for Al Ahli, which dropped to a 4-1 win-loss record.
Strong Group hopes to go deeper in the tournament as the quarterfinal starts on 26 January at the same venue.
Last year, the Filipino club, led by former Philippine Basketball Association imports Shabazz Muhammad and Renaldo Balkman as well as former National Basketball Association guard Nick Young, suffered a 97-107 defeat at the hands of eventual champion Al Riyadi Club Beirut of Lebanon.
