Dubai
Sporting Club of Lebanon maintained their winning run while Nlex Road Warriors from Philippines started with a victory in second day action of the 26th Dubai International Basketball Tournament at the Al Ahli Club’s indoor hall on Friday.
Sporting Club – Asian champions in 2011 – have won back to back Dubai titles in 2005 and 2006. And this time the 24-time Lebanon league champions have travelled to Dubai with an eye on the crown.
They opened with a handy 112-80 win over the UAE national team sponsored by Al Habtoor, and on Friday, the Lebanese were equally dominant with a 99-75 win against Egypt’s Zamalek Club.
Joining the five-time Arab champions were the Nlex Road Warriors from the Philippines with a convincing 81-71 win over Al Ittihad, Libya. Served by power forward Al Thornton – the NBA’s 2007 14th overall pick who signed with the team from the beginning of this month – the Filipino outfit relied on teamwork to outdo their opponents from Libya.
Also opening their campaign with a win was Sala Club from Morocco with a 95-80 result against American outfit And1 SPL.
Action will continue with preliminary round matches held daily at the Al Ahli Club’s indoor hall from 5 pm. The knockout stages will commence on January 22 with the quarter-finals.
Led by two of Lebanon’s main teams – Club Sagesse and Sporting Club – this year’s tournament has attracted a total of nine teams that have been divided into two groups. The best four teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals. The final has been scheduled for January 24.
Emirates airline, Livefree and El Seif Engineering Contracting are the main sponsors of this annual competition with support from Dubai Duty Free, Athlete’s Rod, DP World, Egypt Air, Del Valley and Al Habtoor.
