Valientes wrap up Dubai campaign winless after falling to Tunisia

ZAMBOANGA Valientes wrapped up its campaign in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship winless after getting blown out by the Tunisia National Team 95-59 cat the Al Nasr Club. Less than 24 hours after getting routed by Sagesse Sports Club, the Valientes were once again overwhelmed early on as after taking an early 7-4 lead, Tunisia stepped on the gas and never looked back. The North African side opened a 15 point lead by the half, and they showed no signs of let-up against the FIlipino ball club in the final two quarters, extending that lead by as many as 42 points, 93-51, with 2:49 left in the game. Zamboanga had no answers to the duo of Wassef Methani and Omar Abada (189-PG-1993) as they took turns in blasting the hapless Valientes side who looked lost on both ends against a deeper and more fluid Tunisian club. Methani led the Tunisians with 17 points, while Abada added 15 points and five assists as they ended the elimination round with a 3-1 record. Samuel Deguara (230-C-1991) led the way for the Valientes with 16 points and 12 rebounds while Prince Caperal (197-PF-1993) added 13 points anchored on three triples but other than their frontline, no one really stepped up to the plate for the squad owned by Zamboangueno sportsman Junnie Navarro. Guard play continues to hound the Valientes, with lead guard Forthsky Padrigao finishing with just seven points, two assists against three turnovers. The other guards in the team didn’t do much better, as ex-pros Mike Tolomia (191-G-1993) and Kyt Jimenez both ended up scoreless, combining to shoot 0-7 from the field in the loss which sent them back to Zamboanga with a 0-4 slate for the tournament. The good news for Filipinos in this tournament is that Strong Group Athletics, bracketed on the other group, is enjoying an entirely different fate as it goes for a sweep of the elims when it faces Amman United in the final match of this playdate.
Courtesy of: spin.ph