The Strong Group Athletics achieved a perfect group stage record by narrowly defeating Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli, 91-89, in a thrilling match at the Dubai International Basketball Championship on Wednesday.
In a closely contested game, Strong Group held an 89-82 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the final quarter. However, Al Ahli Tripoli launched a spirited 6-0 run to close the gap. Jordan Heading’s successful free throws following a foul by Naseim Badrush provided the Philippine representative with a crucial 91-88 lead with only 18 seconds left on the clock.
Al Ahli Tripoli attempted to force overtime with two three-pointers in the dying moments of the game, but both shots fell short. Wajdi Omran Dawo managed to convert one of his free throws after being fouled by Heading, but it wasn’t enough, as Strong Group ultimately secured their fifth consecutive victory.
Strong Group found themselves trailing 51-50 at the end of the first half, erasing a 12-point lead that the Libya team had established in the first quarter.
Leading the charge for Strong Group was Jordan Heading with 19 points, while Howard and Kevin Quiambao contributed 17 points each to the team’s success.
Naseim Badrush led the scoring for Al Ahli Tripoli with an impressive 27 points.
With this victory, Strong Group Athletics advances to the quarterfinals with an unbeaten 5-0 record, showcasing their dominance in the tournament’s group stage.