SGA routs Al Nasr for 2-0 start in Dubai

STRONG Group Athletics (SGA) registered its second straight win after hammering local squad Al Nasr, 99-87, in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship on Sunday morning (Manila time) at the Al Nasr Club. Mentored by coach Charles Tiu, SGA unleashed a crippling 17-2 blitzkrieg capped by a completed three-point play by import Chris McCullough (208-F-1995, college: Syracuse) to turn a 12-point halftime lead into a 67-40 bubble. Strong Group Athletics was hardly threatened from there as the team rolled to a 2-0 start to grab the early lead in Group B standings. The Philippine club team, which ruled the William Jones Cup last year, opened the tournament with a 99-91 win over the United Arab Emirates national squad. McCullough led Strong Group's scoring attack 31 points, along with nine rebounds for a near double-double effort. Filipino American guard Mikey Williams and Ildefonso Dave (183-F-2000) chipped in 16 and 13 points, respectively. Harat Mohammed paced Al Nasr with 34 points in a losing stand.
Meanwhile, the Zamboanga Valientes suffered a 97-82 loss to Sharjah SC in their tournament debut. Seven-foot-six Maltese reinforcement Samuel Deguara (230-C-1991) led the Valientes with a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds. Forthsky Padrigao added 14 points, three rebounds and three steals, while former San Miguel Beermen backup guard Kyt Jimenez (180-G) contributed seven and five boards in a losing effort for the Zamboanga side. Zamboanga looks to bounce back against Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya on Sunday at 11 p.m.
Courtesy of: manilatimes.net