Mighty Sports returns to PH with Dubai bronze finish

FILE: “BRONZE BATTLE
Mighty Sports VS Homenetmen Lebanon
Battle For 3rd
Tip-off at 10:00 PM (Manila Time)” (Photo: @mightysports_ph/Instagram)

Team Philippines, represented by Mighty Sports-Pilipinas, ended their 2019 Dubai International Basketball Tournament journey with their best placing in the league yet at third after bowing down to Al Riyadi Lebanon last Friday, February 8. The score ended 89-84 in favor of the Lebanese.

Justin Brownlee, who is still recovering from his injury two games ago, led his team with 24 points, four rebounds, and four assists, while fellow import Randolph Morris contributed 21 points and eight rebounds. Jeremiah Gray performed with 17 points as well off the bench. Former National Basketball Association (NBA) Laker Lamar Odom only played for seven minutes and was limited to only contributing one rebound. As for their opponents, Wael Arakji, Dominic Johnson, and Jean Abdelnour all performed exceptionally at 21 points, 20 points, and 10 points respectively, which led their team to a finals match-up against Beirut.

Despite their early exit, Mighty Sports head coach Charles Tiu still “likes the way [his team] fought back,” telling the media, “You have to appreciate the effort of the guys. Our opponents kind of had the upperhand in the beginning, we couldn’t defend their ball screens. Their shooters were hot.” He adds, “We had a good run in the end game but we committed a few lapses. We were right there but I counted at least four offensive rebounds that we allowed them to get and those made it harder for us to get back.”

In order to secure their third-place finish, Mighty Sports faced the Homenetmen the next day, to which they won 91-76 to take the bronze home, with recently-retired Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) guard Jett Manuel as the highest-pointer. Third place is the best placing of any Filipino team in the tournament in the last 14 years, Mighty Sports winning six out of seven games.

In retrospect, Coach Charles shares, “Overall, the stint was a successful campaign.”