By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
MIGHTY Sports Philippines competes at the 31st Dubai International Basketball Tournament which begins today with its eyes fixed on the title after finishing third in the last edition of the tournament.
For this year’s tournament, Mighty Sports is fielding in a solid mix of imports, veterans, collegiate and up-and-coming players which it hopes could finally get the job done of making a championship breakthrough.
Leading the squad is Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player and former National Basketball Association campaigner Andray Blatche.
He will be joined by former NBA player and Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) import Renaldo Balkman, McKenzie Moore and Jelan Kendrick.
Also part of the team are Jamie Malonzo, Thirdy Ravena, Beau Belga, Joseph Yeo, Mikey Williams, Juan and Javi Gomez de Liano, Dave Ildefonso, Isaac Go, Gab Banal, Joaqui Manuel and Jarrell Lim.
Gilas cadet Kai Sotto was supposed to be part of the team but due to scheduling and logistical problems on his part he had to miss the tournament.
Head coach of the team is Charles Tiu with assistants William Voigt, Dean Castaño, Tyrone Tang, and Paolo Layug.
Mighty Sports, which took home the Jones Cup title in Taiwan in 2019 when it represented the country, will begin their campaign in the Dubai tournament in Group B where it will be pitted against Al Itihad of Syria, the United Arab Emirates national team and Rades of Tunisia.
Al Riyadi of Lebanon, the 2019 champion, is in Group A, along with American University in Dubai, Hoops of Lebanon, Al Wathba of Syria, and African teams Alexandria of Egypt and Sala of Morocco.
Last year, Mighty Sports finished at third place, defeating Homentmen of Lebanon in the bronze medal game.
The tournament happens from Jan. 23 to Feb. 1. Venue is the Shabab al Ahli Sports Club.
Mighty Sports Philippines, which began competing in the Dubai tournament in 2017, is backed by Creative Pacific of Bong Cuevas, Go for Gold, Oriental Group, Discovery Primea, and Gatorade.
