STRONG Group coach Charles Tiu is pleased with what he’s been seeing so far from his team as they gear up for the Dubai 2023 International Championship.
With only a week left before the tournament starts on Jan. 27, Tiu and his crew, a blend of veterans and young, explosive players, are racing against time in their bid to keep the country’s dominance in the cage meet.
Strong Group, owned by Jacob Lao and backed by Mighty Sports and Acrocity Guiguinto, has been drawn in Group A of the tournament in the company of the United Arab Emirates national team, Al-Wahda from Syria, Dynamo from Lebanon and Al Nasr from Libya.
The youthful mentor said the players are shaking off cobwebs and the veterans readily taking the leadership role.
“Team chemistry is slowly picking up. (Renaldo) Balkman has been our clearcut leader as always. They’re slowly getting in shape, too. So that’s a good sign,” said Tiu, who added the 22-year-old team owner has been joining the team’s practice.
Some of the players have given Tiu a hint of what to expect, particularly Jerom Lastimosa and BJ Andrade who strutted their wares in practice along with fellow young guns Ange Kouame, Will Gozum, Justine Baltazar, Francis Lopez, Inand Fornillos, JD Cagulangan and Fil-Am guard Sedrick Barefield.
Even former NBA star Nick Young, who is housed at the Discovery Primea, is enjoying his first trip in Manila and is looking comfortable with the team’s young guns.
“Nick was also impressed,” added Tiu.
“Jerom Lastimosa is really good. Best point guard in college for sure. He’s so much better than I thought,” Tiu said of the King Falcon.
“BJ Andrade also has impressed me, great teammate, does a lot of the little things apart from being a great shooter. It’s no wonder Ateneo won all those championships,” he added.
