By MARK REY MONTEJO
NBA veteran Dwight Howard showed flashes of brilliance and helped power Strong Group Athletics to a 94-72 rout of Beirut Sports Club and into the finals of the 2024 Dubai International Tournament Satuday, Jan. 27 at the Al Nasr Club in Dubai, UAE.
Howard, 38, was at his dominant best in third quarter where he combined forces with La Salle ace Kevin Quiambao as the PH representative to the annual tournament pulled away for good behind a telling 18-6 run.
That gave them a 75-49 advantage which they managed to protect on the way to winning their seventh straight win that pushed them a victory away from redemption.
Last year, they team failed to get past the quarters.
But they have to raise their game several notches as they are to face Al Riyadi Club of Beirut which is also advanced to the finals undefeated.
The winner-take-all showdown is slated late Sunday (Manila time).
SGA hopes to become the third PH team to rule tle event since Gilas stamped its class in 2012. Mighty Sports ruled the event twice, the last in 2020
The former Orlando Magic superstar logged 26 points on top of 20 rebounds, three steals and a block while Quiambao backed him up with 18.
Former La Salle star Justine Baltazar and Jordan Heading added 15 and 10 points, respectively.
Alexander Saleh, who finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Naim Rabay anchored Beirut Sports Club’s rally, trimming the gap to 16, 70-86, with four minutes remaining.
But it proved to be their last hurrah as SGA made another run to scuttle its comeback.
