Mighty drops 1st game

Mighty Sports-Philippines’ rally fell short as it yielded to Sale of Morocco, 83-75, at the start of the 28th Dubai International Basketball Championship Friday at Ah Ahly gym in Dubai. Trailing for most of the game, Mighty Sports grabbed the lead at 67-66 on two charities by naturalized Filipino Marcus Douthit. Sale’s import Brandon Freeman, however, buried back-to-back triples and Zakaria Elmashabi drilled in another to quash Mighty Sports’ comeback. Freeman scored 28 points as he got the better of his shootout with Mighty’s Justine Brownlee, who had 27. —ROY LUARCA