Dubai: Two teams from Lebanon got their campaigns off to a winning start on the opening day of the 26th Dubai International Basketball Tournament at Al Ahli Club’s indoor hall on Thursday.
Lebanese league leaders Club Sagesse toyed with Dubai’s Al Shabab Club for a 104-73 romp before the Dubai Duty Free-sponsored Sporting Club got the better of the UAE national team 112-80 to put themselves up as early favourites in this ten-day competition. This year’s tournament has attracted nine teams from seven countries.
In the first match, Sagesse had little difficulty against Al Shabab despite heavy scoring from former Miami Heat draft Robert Dozier, who had 25 points for the local side.
Dozier, the last player signed by the Heat in the 2009 NBA Draft, outscored all with 21 points in the first two periods, but was well contained thereafter.
Former Asian champions Sagesse were leading 22-17 after the opening period, with Elias Rustom top-scoring with six.
Al Shabab fought back within a minute of the resumption to draw level, only for the visitors break free midway through the second quarter and take a 20-point cushion, 57-37, into half-time.
The Sagesse surge continued unabated in the second half as they increased their lead to 82-53 after the third period and then 104-73 at full-time.
“It’s been a great start as we played without much pressure and dominated. But there are things to be learnt as we have come here to win this tournament,” Sagesse coach Fouad Abou Chacra told Gulf News.
“The idea now is to learn from our mistakes and continue keeping the same focus for the remainder of the competition. We have won here in the past and this opening win is only the first step.”
Sporting Club’s coach Slobodan Subotic was also pleased to start on a winning note against the UAE national team.
“We won here two years back and I don’t see any reason why we cannot repeat that again this year,” he said. “We want to go all the way and win it once again.”
Earlier, Prince Talal Bin Badr Bin Saud Bin Abdul Aziz, President of the Saudi Arabia and GCC Basketball Federations, was joined by Mattar Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of Dubai Sports Council (DSC), Esmail Al Gergawi, President of the UAE Basketball Association, and Saeed Hareb, DSC General Secretary, in declaring the tournament open.
Preliminary matches will continue daily from 5pm until January 20, with the knockout stages from January 22 to 24.
