Dwight Howard-led SGA in tough group in Dubai

MANILA, Philippines: Despite having power-packed reinforcements led by former NBA star Dwight Howard and Andray Blatche, Filipino coach Charles Tiu said Strong Group Athletics will have its hands full competing against a tough bracket in the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship that includes two Lebanese club teams.

Strong Group is bracketed at Group B, along with Lebanese squads Beirut Club and Homenetmen, along with Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli, Syria’s Al Wehda and host country United Arab Emirates.

Dwight Howard-led SGA in tough group in Dubai

The annual tournament will kick off this Friday, January 19, with Strong Group debuting against the UAE national side at 11:15 p.m. (3:15 A.M. Saturday Manila time), before going up against Al Wehda (January 21, 1:15 A.M.).

SGA will play its third straight game in as many days on January 22 (3:15 A.M, Manila time) against Homenetmen, before tangling with Beirut Club on January 24, and Al Ahly the next day to close the preliminary round.

With nearly a week of practice as a team since Howard and Blatche arrived two Sundays ago from the United States, Tiu said the locals led by UAAP Season 86 Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao and MPBL MVP Justin Baltazar are jelling well with the imports.

“They’re (locals) meshing okay.

(We’re) just (working on) getting back on defense and working on our execution,” Tiu told the Manila Times.

The Strong Group mentor said they don’t expect the Howard-led Philippine club team to just bowl over the opposition, knowing the squad is drawn to a tough bracket.

“The two Lebanese teams are very strong,” he said.

Beirut Club, which ruled the 2023 Doha International Basketball Championship, will have Jordanian naturalized player Dar Tucker and possibly Cliff Alexander as imports for the Dubai tournament.

Al Ahly, meanwhile, secured the services of Puerto Rican national player Walter Hodge as he teams up with Egyptian big man Anas Mahmoud.

Other members of SGA include former Oklahoma City Thunder Andre Roberson and ex-TNT import McKenzie Moore, Jordan Heading, JD Cagulangan, Ef Escandor, Allen Liwag, Tony Ynot and Justine Sanchez