DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Matikas na nakihamok ang Mighty Sports, ngunit sa pagkakataong ito kinapos ang Pinoy squad laban sa Al Riyadi, 89-84, Sabado ng gabi sa semifinals ng 30th Dubai International Basketball Championship sa Shabab Al Ahli Club dito.
(PATRICK CASTILLO)
Naghabol ang Mighty Sports dribblers at hindi nakaahon mula sa 23 puntos na bentahe ng Lebanese squad, 63-40, para matikman ang unang kabiguan sa torneo matapos ang impresibong 5-0 karta.
Bunsod ng kabiguan, nabigo ang Mighty Sports na sumabak sa championship match.
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Itinataguyod ng Go For Gold, SMDC, Oriental Group at Healthcube, nagawang makalapit ng Mighty Sports sa 84-78 mula sa krusyal na tirada nina imports Justin Brownlee at Randolph Morris, gayundin nina Fil-Ams Jeremiah Gray at Roosevelt Adams, subalit sadyang matatag ang karibal.
Ikinasiya naman ni Mighty Sports co-team owner Caesar Wongchuking ang naging kampanya ng koponan.
“We did our best, we gave our ‘kababayans’ an honest-to-goodness entertainment,” pahayag ni Wongchuking.
Maging si coach Charles Tiu ay naluod sa ipinamalas na tikas ng koponan.
“I like the way we fought back,” sambit ni Tiu. “You have to appreciate the effort of the guys. Medyo naunahan lang kami sa start, We couldn’t defend their ball screens. Their shooters were hot.”
Tumapos si Brownlee na may 24 puntos, habang kumabig si Morris ng 21 puntos.
Iskor:
AL RIYADI ( 89) – Arakji 23, Johnson 20, Saoud 12, Abdelnour 10, Abdelmoneim 9, Gyokchyan 8, Obekpa 7, Bowjee 0, Khatib 0.
MIGHTY SPORTS (84) – Brownlee 24, Morris 21, Gray 17, De Liano 8, Brickman 8, Adams 4, Santillan 2, Odom 0, Banal 0.
Quarters: 26-20, 54-40, 76-67, 89-84.
-REY C. LACHICA
