La Salle, Benilde standouts form Strong Group core

MANILA, Philippines -- A core composed of UAAP champion La Salle and College of Saint Benilde will be at the frontline of Strong Group Athletics' team for the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship.

In a statement, Strong Group Athletics said reigning UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao as well as his La Salle teammate Francis Escandor will join the team.

Benilde stalwarts Allen Liwag, Tony Ynot and Justine Sanchez will also join the team.

Aside from the players, La Salle head coach Topex Robinson will join the staff of Strong Group head coach Charles Tiu.

"DLSU just won the college championship, so it made sense for us to bring in some of their players and merge them with ours at Benilde," Tiu, who also coaches Benilde, said.

“After all, we are One La Salle.”

The locals will be joining imports Dwight Howard, Andray Blatche, Andre Roberson, and McKenzie Moore in the tourney.

Quiambao will be playing for Strong Group for the second time. He was earlier a part of the Strong Group team that bowed out of the tournament in the quarterfinals a year ago.

"We are super happy that I am part of the team, knowing the roster is super loaded and talented. The hunger to bounce back is there, because the league we are in is the best of the best," Quiambao said.

"I will do my best every game, and I will do everything I can to help the team get its goal - championship," he added.

Tiu said that he wants to give the Benilde recruits -- Ynot, Sanchez and Liwag -- the experience of playing overseas.

“They will have to fight for their minutes as they also play the same position as our imports. But this is good for their overall growth as players and is part of my thrust at CSB to continue developing guys as much as we can," the coach said.

The sharpshooting Escandor, the mentor added, will have a key role for the team.

Aside from Tiu and Robinson, Australia national team head coach Brian Goorjian will also be a part of the coaching staff as team consultant.

“I've talked with Coach Topex about working together in the past, even before he got the DLSU job. We are good friends, and I am sure he will add a lot of value to us. He is a champion coach,” Tiu said.