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| Shabazz Muhammad led Strong Group in scoring in their opening game win. PBA Images (file photo) |
MANILA—Strong Group began its campaign in the Dubai International Basketball Championship with a 91-87 win against the United Arab Emirates national team at the start of the event early Saturday (Philippine Time) at the Al-Nasr Sports Club in Dubai.
Strong Group quickly recovered from a slow first quarter and was even on its way to a blowout win, but UAE fought back in the fourth quarter only to fall short of a comeback.
Strong Group found itself down, 19-27, at the end of the first quarter, but behind an 11-point solo run from Nick Young, the team outscored UAE, 33-14, in the second to enter halftime leading, 52-41.
Strong Group stretched its lead to as high as 20, 70-50, late in the third quarter, but in the fourth, UAE came alive and brought the lead down to just three, 90-87, with 14.4 seconds left.
Sedrick Barefield doused cold water on UAE's comeback with a split from the free-throw line to seal Strong Group's win.
Shabazz Muhammad had 24 points, while Barefield added 23 for Strong Group, which will next take on Libyan side Al-Nasr early Sunday (Philippine Time).
Qais Alshabebi finished with 33 markers for UAE.
The Scores:
STRONG GROUP 91 - Muhammad 24, Barefield 23,Young 13, Balkman 12, Lastimosa 6, Andrade 5, Gozum 4, Quiambao 2, Baltazar 2, Cagulangan 0, Oczon 0, Lopez 0.
UAE 87 – Alshabebi 33, Coles 15, Abdullateef 13, Ndiaye 10, Alameeri 7, Hussein 5, Alhashmi 4, Al Nuaimi 0, Alsawan 0, A Albreiki 0, Ayman 0, M Albreiki 0.
Quarters: 19-27, 52-41, 74-58, 91-87.
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