MANILA, Philippines – The Strong Group Athletics (SGA) have decided to withdraw from the bronze medal match of the 34th Dubai International Championship following a controversial loss to Tunisia in the semifinals, the team announced Sunday morning (Manila time).
SGA suffered a heartbreaking 68-63 defeat early Sunday, in a game that saw them rally from a 16-point deficit. However, it was a questionable no-call in the final moments that left a bitter taste in their mouths.
With just 12.2 seconds remaining and SGA trailing by three, 63-66, the team went to their clutch performer, Rhenz Abando.
He sliced through Tunisia’s defense and pulled up for a deep three-pointer. But as he shot, it appeared that he was clearly bumped from behind by Mohamed Mokhtar Ghayaza. The no-call sparked immediate protests from the Philippine-based squad, but the referees let the play go.
In the final seconds, Tunisia’s Radhouane Slimane sank two free throws to seal the game, 68-63, and end SGA’s hopes of a championship.
In a statement released after the game, SGA made it clear that they would not be participating in the third-place game, citing “officiating inconsistencies” that “significantly impacted the outcome” of the match.
The team emphasized that their decision was not based solely on one call but on their desire to advocate for fairness in officiating.
“Throughout the game, multiple non-calls were made against us, with crucial decisions favoring Tunisia. The most controversial moment came in the final seconds when we were trailing 66-63,” the statement read.
