DeMarcus Cousins
STRONG Group Athletics secured their third consecutive win in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championships with a comfortable 85-78 victory over Beirut First at the Al Nasr Club in Doha early Tuesday morning.
DeMarcus Cousins delivered his best performance of the tournament, leading the charge for SGA with a dominant 26-point, 12-rebound effort.
The four-time NBA All-Star also contributed two steals and one block, shooting 8-for-16 from the field, including four 3-pointers. He received significant support from local players, including naturalized Filipino Ange Kouame and Dave Ildefonso.
Kouame and Ildefonso combined for 14 points in a pivotal second quarter, helping SGA extend a narrow 15-13 first-quarter lead to a commanding 49-34 advantage at halftime.
The Philippine club never looked back after that, maintaining control throughout the second half. They stretched their lead to as many as 21 points early in the fourth quarter, capped by a Mikey Williams three-pointer to make it 75-54.
Despite a late rally by Beirut, which cut the deficit to seven points at 78-71 with just over three minutes remaining, SGA held firm to secure the win.
Kouame finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, while Ildefonso contributed 12 points, making five of his six attempts from the field. Williams also chipped in with eight points and five assists.
Sergio El Darwich led the Lebanese team with 26 points, while NBA veteran Ricky Ledo, who previously played for Blackwater in the Philippines, struggled, finishing with just seven points on 3-for-10 shooting.
SGA will next face Jordanian club Amman United on Thursday at 1 a.m., while the Zamboanga Valientes return to action on Wednesday at 1 AM against Sagesse Sports Club.