Strong Group Athletics (SGA) faced a heart-wrenching 77-74 defeat against Al Riyadi of Lebanon in the Dubai International Basketball Championship’s final. The game, which took place at Al Nasr Club on Monday morning (Manila time), concluded with a shocking buzzer-beating three-pointer by 47-year-old Ismail Ahmed Abdelmoneim.
The Philippine team, boasting former NBA stars like Dwight Howard, Andre Roberson, and Andray Blatche, was anticipated to dominate the tournament. However, their journey ended abruptly despite a valiant comeback from a 17-point deficit. Roberson led SGA with 24 points and 13 rebounds but missed a crucial shot in the closing seconds. Howard contributed with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Fil-Australian guard Jordan Heading added 17 points, tying the game at 74 before the fateful final shot.
Al Riyadi’s victory was fueled by seasoned players including Manny Harris and Wael Arakji, with Abdelmoneim delivering the decisive blow. SGA’s journey included impressive victories in the group stage and triumphs over AS Sale of Morocco and Beirut Sports Club. However, they fell just short of replicating the success of Mighty Sports, the 2020 champions. Despite the loss, SGA’s performance marked an improvement from the previous year, surpassing their quarterfinal exit. The final scores stood at 77 for Al Riyadi and 74 for Strong Group Athletics, ending the tournament with high drama and intense competition.