Photo credit: Strong Group Athletics (SGA) @stronggroupathl
The defending champions Al Riyadi Club Beirut of Lebanon (8-0) escaped past the Strong Group Athletics - Philippines (7-1), 77-74 in the gold medal game in the 2024 Dubai International Basketball Championship on Sunday, January 28, 2024, at the Al Nasr Club - Basketball Court in Dubai, UAE. [VIDEO]
Al Riyadi started strong, ending the first quarter with a 22-12 lead, and maintained their lead at the half with a score of 46-32.
But Strong Group unleashed a 25-15 run in the third quarter to take a 61-57 lead before heading into the fourth.
The 47-year-old veteran Ismail Ahmed Abdelmoneim hits the game-winning buzzer-beater from beyond the arc, breaking the 74-74 tie and giving Al Riyadi a complete 8-game sweep of the tournament, successfully defending the title.
Al Riyadi's biggest lead was 19 points. They shot 48% from the field (33/68) and were 6-of-21 from the three-point line. On the other hand, SGA shot 28-of-72 from the field, 7-of-25 from three-point range, and 11-of-18 from the free-throw line.
Gabriel Harries led the way with 23 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Lebanon's star guard Wael Arakji had a solid game, contributing 16 points on 8-of-13 shooting and grabbing 3 rebounds. The game hero, Ismail Abdelmoneim, finished with 10 points (4/5 FG, 2/3 2pts, 2/2 3pts), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and a block.
In a losing effort, Andre Roberson led the SGA with a double-double of 24 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals, Dwight Howard had his own double-double of 18 points (6/11FG), 12 rebounds, one steal, and one block. McKenzie Moore added 12 points, 4 rebounds, and one steal. Unfortunately, Moore sustained an injury late in the final quarter and needed to be stretchered out of the court. Andray Blatche, who played for 9 minutes, scored 3 points (1/2 3pts) and grabbed one rebound.
Jordan Heading, the only local to score, had 17 points (7/18 FG, 4/9 2pts, 3/9 3pts, 0/2 ft) and 2 rebounds. Kevin Quiambao had a bad shooting night, his only off night in the tournament. He shot 0-of-5 from the field, including 0-of-3 from beyond the arc, with 2 rebounds and 4 turnovers in 37 minutes of play.
The Scores:
AL RIYADI 77 – Harries 23, Arakji 16, Abdelmoneim 10, Kikanovic 7, Zeinoun 6, Gyokchyan 5, Sakakini 5, Saoud 3, Mansour 2, Tabbara 0.
STRONG GROUP 74 - Roberson 24, Howard 18, Heading 17, Moore 12, Blatche 3, Quiambao 0, Baltazar 0, Cagulangan 0, Escandor 0.
Quarters: 22-12, 46-32, 61-57, 77-74. [GAME STATS] | [GAME HIGHLIGHTS] | [JORDAN]
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STRONG GROUP vs. AL RIYADI
[LIVE 1] | [LIVE 2] | [LIVE STATS]
(Final score)
AL RIYADI 77-74 STRONG GROUP
🏀 STRONG GROUP PHL Games: (PHL time)
(Jan 19)
SGA def. UAE, 82-66(Jan 20)
SGA def. Al Wahda, 89-67 (Jan 21)
SGA def. Homenetmen, 104-95 (Jan 24)
SGA def. Beirut, 95-73(Jan 25)
SGA def. Al Ahli Tripoli, 91-89
(Jan 27) QF -
SGA def. AS Sale, 92-80
(Jan 28) SEMIS -
SGA def. Beirut, 94-72
(Jan 28) FINALS - AL RIYADI def.
SGA, 77-74