Daven Tamayo

Strong Group completes group stage sweep; Zamboanga goes winless in Dubai tiff

Article (news)

John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com/api/upload-raw/20250130100156/03bc652ccf19da96e50c9299a1c9274fb07a628e76d618b755d62e2fb8260cd3.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii" alt="Photo from Strong Group Athletics/Facebook" style="width:960px"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Photo from Strong Group Athletics/Facebook </em></span></span></span></div><p>Strong Group-Philippines and Zamboanga Valientes, two Philippine teams participating in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship, had contrasting fates as the tournament&#x27;s group stage concluded.</p><p>The Athletics were successful in completing a group stage sweep, following their triumph over Amman United, 84-75, on Thursday, while the Valientes were defeated in all of their games, ending their campaign with a 95-59 loss to world No. 36 Tunisia on Wednesday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/1/30/after-grandma-s-passing-rhenz-abando-channels-grief-into-motivation-1748"><strong>READ: Basketball: After grandma&#x27;s passing, Rhenz Abando channels grief into motivation</strong></a></div><p>SGA was dominant in the groups, securing victories over UAE, Al Nasr, and Beirut. But the squad&#x27;s run doesn&#x27;t stop there as it gears up for a quarterfinal bout against Sharjah Sports Club on Friday at 1 a.m. (Manila time).</p><p>&quot;It was a great team win. Everyone stepped up and contributed, which is exactly what we need heading into the knockout rounds,&quot; said head coach Charles Tiu after winning against Amman United.</p><p>Notably, former NBA star DeMarcus Cousins only played five minutes versus Amman United, which was done deliberately, said Tiu.</p><p>&quot;I wanted to give DeMarcus some rest as we get ready for the playoffs. We’ll need him fresh for the crucial games ahead,&quot; Tiu said.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Valientes, in their last game, trailed against Tunisia as early as the first quarter -- a separation they weren&#x27;t able to trim down.</p><div><strong>The Scors (SGA vs. Amman United):</strong></div><p><strong>Strong Group 84 </strong>- Richardson 24, McCullough 19, Abando 12, Williams 7, Brickman 6, Kouame 6, Ildefonso 5, Blatche 3, Cousins 2, Liwag 0, Ynot 0, Sanchez 0.</p><p><strong>Amman United 75</strong> - Mustafa 20, Sims 15, Allen 14, Alhamarsheh 10, Hawwas 6, Qarmash 4, Al Shiyyab 4, Albabeish 2.</p><p><strong>Quarterscores</strong>: 23-15, 42-34, 66-53, 84-75.</p><div><strong>The Scores (Zamboanga vs. Tunisia):</strong></div><p><strong>Tunisia 95</strong> – Methani 17, Ababa 15, Jawadi 10, Slimane 10, Ghayaza 7, Yahia 7, Lahiani 7, Chennoufi 6, Al Jaziri 5, Chander 5, Saada 4, Seyeh 2.</p><p><strong>Zamboanga 59</strong> – Deguara 16, Cabanero 14, Caperal 13, Padrigao 7, Thomas 5, Cadiz 2, Alcantara 2, Diouf 0, Tolomia 0, Jimenez 0, Lingganay 0, Esa 0.</p><p><strong>Quarterscores</strong>: 25-16, 43-28, 70-45, 95-59.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VcsGXksZZmM??si=0w9cmz1OpOEHZxJQ&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Strong Group-Philippines and Zamboanga Valientes, two Philippine teams participating in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship, had contrasting fates as the tournament's group stage concluded.</p>

Strong Group-Philippines and Zamboanga Valientes, two Philippine teams participating in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship, had contrasting fates as the tournament's group stage concluded.