High expectations for SGA coming to Dubai.
It’s quite clear that Strong Group Athletics (SGA) made sure to reinforce their lineup for this year’s Dubai International Basketball Championship.
After exiting in the quarterfinals in last year’s Dubai tilt, SGA went all out in ensuring the 2024 roster is ready to compete for the title—bringing in former NBA players in Dwight Howard and Andre Roberson.
The team also called up former Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Andray Blatche, as well as team mainstay McKenzie Moore.
Of course, Strong Group local crew is equally stacked, with the likes of Kevin Quiambao, JD Cagulangan, Jordan Heading, and Justine Baltazar backstopping the team.
It almost seems like Strong Group has one directive: title or bust.
“We didn't like the results last year. We ended up in the quarterfinals. Winners kami eh, we want to compete,” SGA Team Manager Jacob Lao said in an interview on One Sports’ The Game.
“If we're gonna do it, might as well make big waves out of it, so that's why we recruited Dwight, we recruited Andray Blatche, we recruited Andre Roberson and the college kids,” he added.
The team looks awesome on paper, but one of the biggest questions among many fans is whether or not the team has developed enough chemistry for the tournament.
That's no a problem at all, assures Lao.
“With the way I see it in practices and games, I think that chemistry is not gonna be a problem,” said Lao. “It's more of how we're gonna take care of ourselves going into Dubai because the tournament is really short, it's really squeezed.”
All eyes will be on SGA starting this weekend, as they head to the the Middle East. The Dubai International Basketball Championship runs from January 19-28.