Valientes ripped by Al Ahli Tripol

MANILA, Philippines — The Zamboanga Valientes remained winless in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship after getting blasted by Al Ahli Tripoli, 107-84, Sunday night in Dubai. 

The Valientes clawed out of a double-digit hole but eventually ran out of gas in the final minutes of the game to fall to 0-2 in the tournament.

Mohamed Sadi paced Al Ahli Tripolo with 25 points, six rebounds and three assists, with Wuat Alok backstopping with 24 markers and 11 boards.

Zamboanga led by seven points in the first quarter, which they maintained through the second after a pair of free throws by Malick Diouf, 37-30.

However, Al Ahli Tripoli unleashed a 18-5 run capped by a 3-pointer by Mohamed Buzgaiya to grab a 48-42 in the second frame.

Freebies by Forthsky Padrigao halted the blitz, 44-48, but Deng Angok Yak’s buzzer-beating triple pushed the Libyan squad’s team to seven, 51-44.

This turned things around as the squad was just too hot to handle.

Al Ahli Tripoli gained a 15-point advantage, 59-44, early on in the third after a triple by Pierre Jackson.

Zamboanga, though, stormed back and cut the deficit to six, 80-86, after a layup by Adonis Thomas with 5:09 remaining in the game.

However, a 12-2 haymaker unleashed by the Libyan team, which was capped by a triple byb Deng, closed the door on any comeback attempt of the Valientes, 98-82. 

Naseim Badrush added 19 points, eight assists and three rebounds for Tripoli, while Deng chipped in 17 marker. 

Sam Deguara carried the load for the Valientes anew with 25 points and eight rebounds in 35 minutes of play. Thomas backstopped with 24 points, while Nic Cabanero produced 14 off the bench.