Strong Group edges Al Nasr; Valientes fall short

MANILA, Philippines -- Strong Group Athletics remained unscathed in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship after trouncing Al Nasr, 99-87, in their matchup early Sunday morning (Manila time).

Fresh off a huge win against the United Arab Emirates’ national team a day ago, SGA started to pull away in the second quarter and never looked back.

Chris McCullough had another strong performance with 31 points, nine rebounds, three assists and a swat off the bench. Mikey Williams chipped in 16 markers.

After leading by four, 21-17, at the end of the first, the visiting team started off the second quarter with seven straight points after a pair of free throws by McCullough to go up by 11, 28-17.

The scoring run was halted by Marvelle Harris with a pullup jumper, 28-19, and the two teams traded baskets in the next possessions.

However, Al Nasr played catchup the rest of the game as the Philippine-based team clamped down on defense while heating up from the field in the second half.

SGA turned a 50-38 lead at the half to a game-high 27 point advantage, 67-40, after an and-one play by McCullough in the third quarter.

But Al Nasr retaliated with a 21-6 run the rest of the third to make it a 12-point deficit, 61-73, heading into the fourth.

The home team was able to inch to within five, 72-77, with 7:21 remaining. But SGA was just too good as McCullough went on a personal 12-0 run to push the lead to an insurmountable 16 points, 88-72, with 4:23 left as they breezed through the finish line.

Dave Ildefonso added 13 points for SGA, while Jason Brickman chipped in nine. DeMarcus Cousins and Malachi Richardson each scored eight points.

Harat Mohammed tallied 34 points, seven rebounds and three assists for Al Nasr, while Harris had 30 markers, seven boards and two dimes.

Earlier in the day, fellow Filipino team Zamboanga Valientes squandered a big first quarter lead and had a rough debut in the tourney at the hands of Al Sharjah Club, 97-82.

After leading by as much as 15 points in the first quarter, Zamboanga ran out of gas in the second half as they saw their opponents heat up.

Nicholas West and DeQuan Jones provided the one-two punch for Al Sharjah, finishing with 30 and 29 markers, respectively. Mohamed Asad and Sidiya Gueye added 15 and 11 points, respectively.

The Valientes were up by two, 56-54, in the third after a pair of freebies by Sam Deguara.

But a 16-6 run to end the third pushed the victors ahead by eight, 70-62, going into the final frame.

Zamboanga fell behind by 11 points to start the fourth, but sliced the lead to just five, 70-75, after a triple by Forthsky Padrigao with 6:18 left.

But a backbreaking 16-0 run capped by a dagger triple by Asad made it a 91-72 ballgame with 3:52 left.

Mike Tolomia finally stopped the bleeding with a deuce, but free throws by Asad gave Al Sharjah a 21 point lead, their biggest of the game.

The 7-foot-6 Deguara, the obvious focal point of the offense, scored 16 points for the Valientes. Mike Tolomia chipped in 14 points, while Adonis Thomas and Padrigao had 13 narkers each. Prince Caperal contributed 11 points.

Kyt Jimenez had seven points and five rebounds for the Valientes.