Photo credit: Dubai Sports TV
Quarterfinals-bound Strong Group Athletics - Philippines (4-0) uses strong first half to beat the Sports Club Beirut-Lebanon (1-2), 95-73 in the preliminary round of the 2024 Dubai International Basketball Championship on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at the Al Nasr Club - Basketball Court in Dubai, UAE. [REPLAY VIDEO]
Kevin Quiambao delivered a consistent and solid performance, leading the SGA with 20 points (4/9 3pts), 4 rebounds, and a steal. Mckenzie Moore had another all-around game of 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists while Jordan Heading added 15 points (2/8 3pts), 1 rebound, and 1 steal.
JD Cagulangan played his best game of the tournament, contributing 12 points (3/4 2pts, 2/5 3pts), 2 rebounds, and 6 assists. Unfortunately, he suffered an apparent ankle injury early in the fourth quarter. Dwight Howard was one rebound shy of a double-double, tallying 11 points (5/9fg), 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal
In a losing effort, SC Beirut's big three combined for 57 points, led by Lebanon NT star guard Sergio El Darwich with 28 points (4/6 3pts), veteran Mohamed Ali Haidar with 15 points and 7 rebounds. Meanwhile, import Jordan naturalized player Dar Tucker, despite a 3-of-11 field goal shooting performance, added 14 points, shooting 7-of-9 from the free-throw line.
With this win, Strong Group ties with Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya), both holding a 4-0 win-loss record and sharing the top spot in Group B, while in Group A, Al Riyadi (Lebanon) lead the group with a 4-0 record. [Full Schedule and Team Standings]
Strong Group will play Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya) on early Thursday morning, January 25 at 1:15am (PHL time). SGA and Al Ahli Tripoli will play for the No.1 spot in the group before advancing to the KO quarterfinals on January 26. [LIVE]
The Scores:
STRONG GROUP 95 - Quiambao 20, Moore 19, Heading 15, Cagulangan 12, Howard 11, Escandor 6, Liwag 3, Blatche 3, Baltazar 2, Sanchez 2, Roberson 2, Ynot 0.
SPORTS CLUB BEIRUT 73 – El Darwich 28, Haidar 15, Tucker 14, Saleh 8, Ghudwin 3, Rabay 3, Mahmoud 2, Martinez 0, Mechref 0, Jarrouj 0.
Quarters: 32-20, 58-40, 75-56, 95-73. [GAME STATS] | [GAME HIGHLIGHTS] | [JORDAN]
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🏀 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