Mighty Sports-PH stops UAE, secures QF spot in Dubai
Credit to Author: JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA| Date: Sun, 03 Feb 2019 16:15:47 +0000
Justin Brownlee delivered anew as Mighty Sports Philippines repulsed the pesky United Arab Emirates (UAE) national team, 86-78, to notch a quarterfinal spot in the 30th Dubai International Basketball Championship at the Shabab Al-Ahli Club on Saturday night (early Sunday in Manila).
Brownlee tallied a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds, but none bigger than a crucial dunk late in the game that helped the Philippines representative fend off the host country for a second straight victory.
It was a fitting follow-up to Mighty Sports’ 87-58 romp over American University in Dubai as the Filipino ball club secured its place in the final eight of the 10-team tournament.
The Charles Tiu-mentored quintet already surpassed its one-win production in its debut participation in the Dubai hoops competition two years ago.
Chinese Basketball Association veteran Randolph Morris topscored for Mighty with 20 points to go with seven rebounds and two assists while Filipino-American forward Roosevelt Adams shone with his 18 markers, two steals and a board off the bench.
Jeremiah Gray and Juan Gomez De Liaño chipped in nine points apiece, providing much-needed support as former NBA star Lamar Odom continued to struggle in finding his shooting touch.
Odom missed his lone three-point attempt but managed to contribute five rebounds and an assist in just 13 minutes of action.
Morris and Adams combined forces to spark a 12-0 blast that turn a 29-24 lead into a huge 41-24 advantage for Mighty in the second quarter.
The Filipino squad sustained its hot shooting after the halftime break, leading by as much as 72-52 on Adam’s breakaway slam late in the third frame.
UAE did not back down easily as it slowly cut the deficit down to 75-84 with barely four minutes remaining in the game.
With Mighty needing a basket, Brownlee went for an emphatic dunk off Jason Brickman’s assist to seal the win with less than two minutes to go.
Mighty is now aiming for a third consecutive triumph against Homenetmen Beirut Basketball Club of Lebanon at press time.
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