Strong Group Athletics’ run in the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship came to an end after a 74-77 heartbreak against Lebanon’s Al Riyadi at the Al Nasr Club in Dubai early Monday.
With the game tied at 74 in the dying moments of the fourth quarter, Ismail Ahmed Abdelmoneim drained a buzzer-beating triple over the defense of Jordan Heading to seal the win and the title.
Al Riyadi finished the tournament winning all of their nine games that started in the elimination round.
Gabriel Harries led Al Riyadi with 23 points and seven rebounds while Wael Arakji dropped 16 points, three rebounds, and three assists as Al Riyadi retains the crown it won last year.
Former Oklahoma City Thunder cager Andre Roberson led Strong Group with 24 points while NBA champion Dwight Howard had a double-double game of 18 points and 12 rebounds.
This was deja vu for Strong Group after last year’s 97-107 defeat to Al Riyadi in the quarterfinal.
