Howard, Blatche show way as Strong Group escapes Homenetmen for 3-0 start

Dwight Howard and Andray Blatche showed their caliber to steer the Philippines' Strong Group Athletics to a 104-95 escape against Homenetmen of Lebanon and a 3-0 start in the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship late Sunday.

Howard, a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, was dominant all throughout the game, scattering a team-high 32 points to go with seven rebounds and five steals as the Philippine side remained unscathed and forged a two-way tie at the top of Group B with Libya's Al Ahli Tripoli.

Blatche, on the other hand, got his bearings in the fourth quarter, where he exploded for 15 points to finish with 18 markers, six boards, and four assists.

Strong Group had previously defeated the UAE national team, 82-66, in their opening assignment and Syria's Al Wahda, 89-67, before picking up their third straight win. The Homenetmen, meanwhile, dropped to 0-2.

Momentum was on the side of the Lebanese bets at the half after Dewayne Jackson closed it out with a buzzer-beating triple and made it a 48-42 lead for them. But the Charles Tiu-led squad flipped the script in the second half to bag their third win in as many games.

Strong Group unleashed a strong third quarter, outscoring their Lebanese foes 29 to 19 to retake the lead at 71-67. But it was Blatche's hot hand that saved the day for Strong Group as the naturalized Filipino big man buried five three-pointers in the fourth quarter alone after being limited to just three points in the first half.

Kevin Quiambao then put the cherry on top with a one-handed putback slam.

The reigning UAAP MVP tallied 19 points while Andre Roberson and Mckenzie Moore, chipped in 13 and 12, respectively.

Zach Lofton, who previously reinforced Meralco in the ongoing PBA Commissioner's Cup, starred for Homenetmen with 37 points together with eight rebounds, seven assists, and a steal while Gerard Hadidan and Jackson chimed in with 21 and 16 points. 

Strong Group will take a break before returning to action on early Wednesday at 1:15 a.m.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News