DUBAI – Now in the brink of elimination, Mighty Sports-Philippines needs to come up with an extraordinary performance when it faces title favorite Al Riyade of Lebanon today in the 28th Dubai International Basketball Championship at the Al Ahli Indoor Stadium here.
After dropping its first three games – the last two decided at the crunch – Mighty Sports has to play with a sense of urgency in their 9 p.m. game to stay in the semis hunt of the 8-team tournament touted as the toughest in the Middle East region.
But beating the early semifinalist requires lots of fire and passion from Mighty Sports’ imports in NBA veterans Hasheem Thabeet and Dominic McGuire and naturalized Marcus Douthit.
Former Ginebra import Justine Brownlee and NBA D-League aspirant Kiefer Ravena are the only consistent performers for the Philippine side with Brownlee averaging 27 points a game and the former Ateneo standout posting close to 13 points per contest.
Backed by Rain or Shine and Scratch It, Mighty Sports was playing Homenetmen – also of Lebanon – at press time.
(Rey Lachica)
