By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Ismail Ahmad Abdelmoneim and Al-Riyadi of Lebanon dealt the Strong Group Athletics-Philippines a 77-74 heartbreaker in the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship finals at the Al-Nasr Sports Club yesterday (Philippine time).

With the score tied at 74-all, Al-Riyadi star guard Wael Arakji drew all the Strong Group defenders before he found Abdelmoneim open for a three-pointer to complete the buzzer-beating win.

The 47-year-old Abdelmoneim finished the game with 10 points, including two three-point conversions, to go with three rebounds, one assist and a steal as Al-Riyadi secured their second consecutive crown.

Manny Harris, formerly of the NLEX Road Warriors in the NBA, top-scored for Al-Riyadi with 23 points, while Arakji contributed 16 markers, mostly in the first half, for the winning team.

Harris and Arakji were on fire early in the opening quarter for Al-Riyadi as they quickly jumped to a 22-9 advantage before Strong Group managed to cut it to 10 via a three-pointer by Andray Blatche.

The lead continued to grow for Al-Riyadi in the second period until it reached as high as early in the third quarter at 51-32 via an inside conversion from guard Elmedin Kikanovic.

Strong Group, with Andre Roberson, Jordan Heading and McKenzie Moore leading the way, slowly cut Al-Riyadi’s deficit in the third period with their inside and outside shots to only be down 57-61 entering the fourth quarter.

The Philippine representatives continued their run in the fourth quarter as they took a 65-61 lead on back-to-back treys by Moore and Roberson at the 8:25 mark before they were held scoreless for more than three minutes.

Dwight Howard added a free throw with five minutes left to make it 66-64 before Al-Riyadi took a 67-66 lead on a Harris three-pointer and later widened it to 72-67 via two free throws by Harris and a triple from Amir Mohammad Ismail Saoud.

Back-to-back hits from Roberson and Howard cut the deficit to 71-72 before Arakji responded with a layup to make it a 74-71 Al-Riyadi lead, but Heading knotted the score for the last time at 74-all with a three-pointer with over a minute left.

Roberson finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, and three steals to lead the Strong Group. Howard added 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Heading and Moore contributed 17 and 12 points, respectively./ASC, WDJ

AL-RIYADI 77 — Harris 23, Arakji 16, Abdelmoneim 10, Kikanovic 7, Zeinoun 6, Gyokchyan 5, Sakanini 5, Saoud 3, Mansour 2, Tabbara 0.

STRONG GROUP 74 — Roberson 24, Howard 18, Heading 17, Moore 12, Blatche 3, Quiambao 0, Baltazar 0, Cagulangan 0, Escandor 0.

Quarterscores: 22-12, 44-30, 61-57, 77-74.