Strong Group knocks off AS Sale, advances to semis in Dubai

MANILA, Philippines: Strong Group Athletics marched to the semifinals after holding off Moroccan club AS Sale, 92-80 in their knockout quarterfinal match in the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship on Saturday, January 27 at the Al Nasr Club Basketball Court in UAE.

Former Oklahoma City Thunder wingman Andre Roberson showed the way for SGA with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Dwight Howard registered a double-double of 17 points and 12 boards.

Strong Group knocks off AS Sale, advances to semis in Dubai

McKenzie Moore also logged in 17, seven rebounds and two steals for Strong Group, which arranged a semifinal duel with their group stage victim Sports Club Beirut on Sunday, 1:15 A.M. Manila time.

Defensively, the Philippine club team played sharp, holding off the Moroccans to just 38 percent from the field, while out rebounding the 2024 Arab Club Championships runner-up, 54-37.

UAAP Season 86 Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao scored 15 points, while Justin Baltazar added eight.

Filipino-Australian Jordan Heading added six points, five rebounds and five assists for Strong Group, which is just two wins away from sweeping the annual tournament and redeeming itself after a quarterfinal exit in 2023.

SGA, which is now 6-0 in the tournament, clobbered the Beirut club team, 95-73 in their first encounter in the group stage.

The other semifinal tussle will feature defending champion Al Riyadi (6-0) and Al Ahly Tripoli of Libya.