By Rey C. Lachica
Game Thursday
(Shabab Al Ahli Club)
9 p.m. – Mighty Sports vs Oil Sports Club (Iraq)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Justin Brownlee is still hurting a bit but vowed to give his all if given the green light to play as Mighty Sports tries to achieve his initial goal when it faces Oil Sports Club of Iraq in the quarterfinal round of the 30th Dubai International Basketball Championship Thursday night (Friday morning Manila time) at the Shabab Al Ahli Club here.
“He will try to play,” said co-team owner Caesar Wongchuking who took an early flight back to this ultra modern capital city Thursday morning after the team completed a four-game sweep of its group elims last Tuesday.
“Hoping for the best from him although we won’t force him if he’s still hurting,” added Wongchuking.
Coach Charles Tiu is likewise hoping that Brownlee – who hit the floor twice in the team’s gritty 85-81 win over a rugged Syrian Club Al Wahda – will be able to play and dish out the numbers he produced in the team’s first four games.
Tiu said Brownlee, also the import of Barangay Ginebra in the PBA, has taken the medicine to ease the pain on his left knee – a result of a hard collision with Al Wahda player.
Game is set at 9 p.m. (1 a.m. Friday Manila time) with the rest of the team out to use the condition of the charismatic import as their extra motivation to make it to the semi-final round.
In other matches, Beirut of Lebanon, the topntcher in the other group, takes on United Arab Emirates at 5 p.m., Al Riyadi , also of Lebanon, tackles Al Wahda at 7 p.m. while Morocco’s Sale faces Homenetmen in the opener at 1 p.m.
Mighty Sports produced only one win in seven games in its maiden campaign in the annual tournament two years so the marching orders from co-team owner Alex Wongchuking is to reach the Final Four this time.
“Despite the condition of Justin, I am still optimistic that you guys can do it,” said the older Wongchuking in a text message to Tiu, younger brother of retired Rain or Shine star guard Chris Tiu.
That means extra effort from team’s other import – American Randolph Morris who is averaging close to 23 points and also from the deadly troika of Fil-Ams Jason Brickman, Roosevelt Adams, and Jerimiah Gray who continued to dazzle Filipino fans with their superb team plays.
“We need them to deliver big this time,” said assistant coach Jong Uichico. “And I am confident they can.”
Tiu, Uichico and the team’s other assistants – Dean Castano and Woody Co – also would like to see a consistent showing from UP crafty guard Juan Gomez de Liano this time.
