BY ABBY TORALBA
LEBANESE side Al Riyadi handed Strong Group a heartbreaking 74-77 loss early yesterday in the final of the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship at the Shabab Al Ahli Club.
Former NBA cagers Andre Robinson and Dwight Howard posted double-double performances for Strong Group, with the former tallying a team-high 24 points, 13 rebounds and three assists and the latter adding 18 markers and 12 boards.
Jordan Heading and Mckenzie Moore chipped in 17 and 12 points, respectively, while Kevin Quiambao was held scoreless with four rebounds.
After falling behind in the first half, Strong Group surged ahead in the third canto and cut the deficit to 57-61 before snatching the edge in the final canto 65-61.
With the game tied at 74-all after a three-pointer from Heading with a minute and three seconds remaining, Ismail Ahmed Abdelmoneim answered back for Al Riyadi with a title-sealing three-point shot at the buzzer.
Gabriel Harries shone with 23 points, seven rebounds and three dimes for Al Riyadi, while Wael Mazen Arakji and Abdelmoneim scored 16 and 10 points, respectively.
Strong Group finished the tourney with a 7-1 mark overall.
“Stand strong my Pinoy people. We gave it our all and left it all on the court,” Howard said. “Blood, sweat, tears, and injuries. We fought to the end. Thank you for letting me represent your country.”
