Strong team gets stronger

MANILA, Philippines — Strong Group Athletics coach Charles Tiu yesterday finalized his lineup with the addition of Jordan Heading and Justine Baltazar for the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championships at the Al Nasr Club, United Arab Emirates on Jan. 19-28. The team leaves for Dubai next Wednesday so Tiu has a week to prepare the troops for battle.

Mikey Williams, who played for Tiu under Mighty Sports in the same Dubai tournament in 2020, was a candidate to join Strong but he’s still in talks with TNT on a PBA comeback. Sedric Barefield was another option as Tiu said he was recently cut by the Fubon Braves in the Taiwan league. Heading’s availability came at the right time. The Fil-Australian withdrew from the FIBA World Cup pool last year because of back issues and is now ready to play. Heading was picked first overall in the PBA’s special draft by Terrafirma in 2020 and seconded to Gilas.

Tiu’s roster lists NBA veterans Andray Blatche, Andre Roberson and Dwight Howard, former TNT import McKenzie Moore, UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao, UP point guard JD Cagulangan, La Salle’s Ef Escandor and Allen Liwag, Tony Ynot and Justine Sanchez of St. Benilde.

“We’ve got a good mix of young collegiate players and veteran pros,” said Tiu. “I think the locals will learn a lot from the vets who don’t mind setting screens and doing the little things.” Last Monday, the team got together for a 1-1/2 hour session in a private gym at Urdaneta Village, Makati. Blatche and Howard arrived from Atlanta the day before on a delayed flight via Japan while Moore and Roberson came in last Saturday. Australian national coach Brian Goorjian, who piloted the Bay Area Dragons to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals last season, flew in last Friday and will join Tiu’s staff as a consultant. La Salle coach Topex Robinson will also be in the staff.