Strong Group Athletics (SGA) extended its winning streak to three games in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championships with an 85-78 victory over Beirut First at Al Nasr Club in Dubai early Tuesday morning (Manila time).
According to a Spin.ph report, DeMarcus Cousins delivered his best performance yet for SGA, leading the charge with 26 points, 12 rebounds, two steals, and a block. Cousins received strong support from naturalized Filipino Ange Kouame and Dave Ildefonso, who combined for 14 points in the second quarter to break a tight 15-13 first quarter. The surge gave SGA a commanding 49-34 lead at halftime, a gap they held for the rest of the game.
SGA extended their advantage to as much as 21 points in the fourth quarter, 75-54, following a three-pointer from Mikey Williams. While Beirut mounted a late rally to close the gap to seven points, 78-71, with just over three minutes left, SGA held firm to secure the win.
Kouame contributed 14 points and eight rebounds, while Ildefonso added 12 points on an efficient 5-of-6 shooting. Williams also chipped in with eight points and five assists.
Beirut’s Sergio El Darwich matched Cousins’ 26 points, but NBA veteran and former Blackwater import Ricky Ledo struggled, finishing with just seven points on 3-of-10 shooting.
