With three wins in a row, Strong Group Athletics is on point towards its title mission in the Dubai International Basketball Championships.
SGA, mentored by Charles Tiu, made it 3-0 after its victory over Homenetmen-Lebanon, 104-95, early Monday morning (PH time), as they played their third consecutive assignment in as many days.
Against Lebanon, NBA veterans Dwight Howard, Andray Blatche, and Andre Roberson combined to lift the team after simply cruising by in their first two outings allowing local talents to shine.
La Salle standout and UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao and sweet-shooting teammate Francis Escandor sizzled in the win against the Syrian club in their second outing. Quiambao had a team-high 24 highlighted by 6-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc. The Davao City pride Escandor also sparkled with five treys and an 18-point effort in his first international stint.
Escandor had 2 points in the first game against UAE which he converted on a fastbreak off a steal in a defense-to-offense sequence.
Escandor went scoreless against Lebanon as he attempted only once and missed.
Howard, one-time NBA champion delivered a 32-point, seven-rebound, five-block performance to lead the Filipinos over a gutsy Lebanon squad who had the lead over PH after the first half.
Blatche added 18 points, 15 of which came from five treys in the final quarter, and Roberson, the former NBA All-Defense Team member had 13 markers and eight rebounds.
Howard’s dunks and post presence, and Blatche’s hot hands helped SGA overcome a 77-76 lead by Lebanon with still over seven minutes remaining in the game, with the duo leading a 16-6 barrage in just three minutes.
Quiambao ended the night with 19 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Against UAE, he tallied 13 points in their first win, making him average a team-high 18.6 points, as well as 4.0 boards and 3.0 assists after three games.
Quiambao, converted to two guard in this giant-laden squad, has consistently finished in double digits in every game, and following him is Howard who is averaging 17.0 ppg, Roberson (11.0 ppg), McKenzie Moore (10.3 ppg), and Blatche (10.0 ppg).
SGA will face Beirut tomorrow before closing out their elimination assignments on the 24th against Libya.
The scores:
Strong Group (104) – Howard 32, Quiambao 19, Blatche 18, Roberson 13, Moore 12, Baltazar 8, Heading 2, Sanchez 0, Cagulangan 0, Escandor 0.
Homenetmen (95) – Lofton 32, Hadidian 21, Holman 18, Jackson 16, Khalil 2, Salem 1, Ajemian 0, Akiki 0.
