Strong Group Athletics at the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship

[paolylo]

I have to admit not being able to see the last 4 games with my work schedules, but I got a sense that these tournament-format games bring out the worst in Philippine basketball just because there aren't a lot of back-to-backs anywhere except those dayo games.

How Roberson, Howard, and Moore were still able to play well shows levels of professionalism that UAAP kids will never get in the PBA. Seeing Heading play makes me wanna strangle the previous old heads in the SBP even more. We only ever saw him in Taiwan and Japan, but everyone forgets he's just 27 and in his prime right now on the same boat as Thirdy... yet a lot of people still think we gotta be patient with PBA 30-year olds to develop.

As for KQ, how I felt seeing Cagulangan in those other games must be what happened to KQ when Tiu decided to play as much of the big guns in the final. At least he has way more room to develop compared to most PBA rookies who'd get drafted at 24. Arakji is a world-class player who could probably make it in Europe or the NBA if they weren't so loaded with bigger black dudes who can do the same thing and more. It's a lesson in club basketball. SGA rode on the backs of Howard's inside game, Roberson/Moore's versatility, Blatche's intangibles, and KQ's shooting. Al-Riyadi could probably take on Tokyo Alvark or New Taipei on a good shooting night.

[C2Hamm]

Congrats Wael Arakji and team

[Rds]

Milking Howard yesterday took it’s toll. I get it he gets mugged but it’s nothing new to him. He simply missed a lot of shots he usually makes. Curious about his FG% for this game.

Quiambao was a no show offensively but his defense was more than decent, be it against bigs down low or against perimeter players. Such versatility would be useful for any team.

KQs defense was good. Well establishing himself as a good shooting perimeter player helped also. Wael got him to bite on a fake on a 3 and the refs swallowed their whistle. But his disciplined defense is way better than when he started giving cheapshots in Japan. Talking about that, Charles Tiu doesnt like it I think. Cagulangan was immediately recalled when a replay showed him giving an elbow to a player. Prompting that player to throw the ball at him.

KQ actually was decent enough to stay with his man. Whether it be Harris or bigger guys in the post. But tonight showed KQ has still has a lot to learn when defenses get serious.

[Rds]

Milking Howard yesterday took it’s toll. I get it he gets mugged but it’s nothing new to him. He simply missed a lot of shots he usually makes. Curious about his FG% for this game.

Quiambao was a no show offensively but his defense was more than decent, be it against bigs down low or against perimeter players. Such versatility would be useful for any team.

He was being mugged most of the time and so was Roberson in the paint. Still Arakji anr co were good enough to score against two good NBA defenders in order to close the game. Arakji had to be treated with back spasms in the 2nd half. And it showed, he was a non factor for most of the 2nd half. But still ended making the winning plays. One was a layup that somehow scooted over Howard. And the second was the nakaw play. Off Robersons miss 3 Arakji quickly dribbled the ball with only Escandor facing him. Roberson came to help challenge. However even after jumping Arakji still had the angle to loop up a past past Escandor and Roberson to Saoud for an open 3. The guy is good. He is not that athletic or big. But at this level he combines his athleticism and size with skill and wiliness.

[Metta]

Even with the loss, this was an important experience for KQ. The tougher defense he experiences the better for him in terms of improving.

And like I said, on D his length and hands gives him an advantage to play just solid positional perimeter defense, while his experience playing as a big allows him to not get bullied in the paint. Hopefully, he got defensive and rebounding tips from Roberson.

He's pro ready and maybe the Dubai experience might complicate things for DLSU.

[ARMIR]

Arakji, either scoring or passing to his teammates, is always clutch… Amir Saoud is also clutch shooter… Arakji is the best PG in Asia right now…

Wasn't the scouting report on Arakji,whenever there's a situation where he has to handle the ball under pressure,they should start pressuring him from the other side of the court to disrupt his rhytmn and vison?

[reamily]

Wasn't the scouting report on Arakji,whenever there's a situation where he has to handle the ball under pressure,they should start pressuring him from the other side of the court to disrupt his rhytmn and vison?

thats correct but if escandor battled arakji from other sid eof court he would blow by him and make a lauyup..its really the 5 guys job on making everyone a cover..Ahmad Ismail is a veteran

[tootch]

we need heading in the gilas pool. Lowkey good defender.

[Giannis34GOD]

Arakji’s clutch moments in 2 year span

Clutch shot vs China in QF match

https://youtu.be/N5FaBT1WQDU?si=woZzz1a7Hqn2Qfe9

Game winning teardrop vs Jordan

https://youtu.be/qKaZNVv-l7k?si=Jg7JuCXU8qMKwmeu

Game winning three vs Gilas w/ JC

https://youtu.be/zrG__vYccoA?si=MxoRfa54kfVM0b1U

Clutch pass to wide open shooter to give Al Riyadi their back to back titles in Dubai tilt

https://youtu.be/ERvX3p3Va70?si=1wswobaqZoV_womR

That’s Arakji resumes in his colorful international career..

[Rds]

Arakji’s clutch moments in 2 year span

Clutch shot vs China in QF match

https://youtu.be/N5FaBT1WQDU?si=woZzz1a7Hqn2Qfe9

Game winning teardrop vs Jordan

https://youtu.be/qKaZNVv-l7k?si=Jg7JuCXU8qMKwmeu

Game winning three vs Gilas w/ JC

https://youtu.be/zrG__vYccoA?si=MxoRfa54kfVM0b1U

Clutch pass to wide open shooter to give Al Riyadi their back to back titles in Dubai tilt

https://youtu.be/ERvX3p3Va70?si=1wswobaqZoV_womR

That’s Arakji resumes in his colorful international career..

It's sad two of those are against Philippine teams. And against NBA players at that. It seems Arakji has a penchant of upping his game against superior competition.

[ARMIR]

thats correct but if escandor battled arakji from other sid eof court he would blow by him and make a lauyup..its really the 5 guys job on making everyone a cover..Ahmad Ismail is a veteran

Did Tiu was ever an assistant coach in any team that faced Arakji before? Dwight bothered Arakji because of his size and ability to be on his face,and Arakji have to play defense and gets tired,Scottie was just all hands on that guy and he got away with it.Gilas should have this in their memory banks that Arakji loves to drive it deep and then if he can't score he will draw the perimeter defender then make that "Hail Mary Pass",and receiver banked it in.

[Giannis34GOD]

Did Tiu was ever an assistant coach in any team that faced Arakji before? Dwight bothered Arakji because of his size and ability to be on his face,and Arakji have to play defense and gets tired,Scottie was just all hands on that guy and he got away with it.Gilas should have this in their memory banks that Arakji loves to drive it deep and then if he can't score he will draw the perimeter defender then make that "Hail Mary Pass",and receiver banked it in.

Toroman should have tips how to defend Arakji... He was the coach of Indonesian team that faced Lebanon twice in WC qualifiers back in 2022... Although both are blow outs since Lebanese are superior than Indonesians...

[Giannis34GOD]

It's sad two of those are against Philippine teams. And against NBA players at that. It seems Arakji has a penchant of upping his game against superior competition.

Talking before about Go to Guy clutch in other thread, Arakji has that ability in all of aspects... I will not surprise if Dubai team that will join in Euroleague next year will tap Arakji as their one of their PGs....

[Giannis34GOD]

Poor Snow Badua and his followers... They take some post from Lebanon pages very seriously... Cmon!!! This is just a sport, They have always our numbers... Just move on and come back stronger... Snow Badua is the biggest crybaby sh*t I've ever seen in my life... No wonder most fans didn't take Snow's post very seriously... Even the UAE naturalization & New York Knicks SL stint still not formally true... Better wait to be post by both parties first to confirm the issue...

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=760645556100507&set=a.583205667177831

[thatweirdguy]

It's sad two of those are against Philippine teams. And against NBA players at that. It seems Arakji has a penchant of upping his game against superior competition.

That last play last night was really special. Not a lot of people could see that angle and make that pass when already in the air. Damn Kiefer was supposed to be our answer to Wael and Guo. So many sayangs on our side. BRP, Kief, Jap, Kobe, Kai.