BY ABBY TORALBA
ANDRAY Blatche and Dwight Howard delivered the goods in the endgame as Strong Group Athletics tripped Homenetmen-Lebanon 104-95 yesterday and remained unbeaten in the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship.
Howard had 32 points on 12-of-13 shooting, along with seven rebounds and five blocks, while Blatche, a Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player, exploded for 15 markers in the fourth quarter, and finished with 18 points and eight boards.
Reigning UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao also had 19 and four as Strong Group rose to 3-0.
“We won the game, man, that’s all that matters. It was a tough game, (the) third game of a back-to-back (matches),” Howard said. “Tough game. We got a good win.”
Blatche’s triples in the fourth erased Homenetmen’s lead and propelled Strong Group to a comfortable 92-83 advantage with 3:23 left.
Although Homenetmen pulled to within 94-99 late in the game, Strong Group kept its composure as Quiambao sealed the win with a slam dunk.
Andre Roberson and McKenzie Moore added 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Jordan Heading delivered 11 assists.
Zach Lofton tallied a game-high 37 points to go with eight boards and seven assists for Homenetmen, while Gerard Hadidan fired 21 markers. Elijah Holman had 19 for Homenetmen.
