Mighty five thumps Beirut, tops Group B

Mighty Sports-Creative Pacific broke away in the third quarter and coasted to a 91-77 win over last year’s runner-up Beirut Sports Club to top its group in the elimination round of the 31st Dubai International Basketball Championship late Tuesday at the Shabab Al Ahli Club in the United Arab Emirates.

Fil-Am Mikey Williams anchored that onslaught, scoring 11 of his team-high 22 points on a remarkable 6-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc as Mighty Sports topped Group B with a 4-0 record.

It was the finest game for the 6-foot-1 Williams in the tournament, which Mighty believes it has a great chance of winning by taking a team there that is armed to the teeth.

The four-game sweep likewise gave the team extra motivation going to the knockout quarterfinals on Thursday.

The team, which takes a break on Wednesday, battles the No. 4 squad of Group A.

Coach Charles Tiu was hardly surprise with Williams’ solid all-around performance, saying: “Mikee once again proved he’s a streak shooter. He caught fire when we needed it badly. Another good win for us.”

While Williams was knocking down treys with wild abandon, barrel-chested import Renaldo Balkman imposed his will inside that saw the Mighty erase a 37-36 halftime deficit on the way to taking a 69-54 advantage going into the payoff period.

Balkman tallied 20 points, four rebounds and two assists that more than made up for his two turnovers while Andray Blatche had a quiet 12-point, 13-rebound effort.

The Lebanese did try to stage a comeback but McKenzie Moore exploded just in time, scoring seven straight points to help Mighty seal the deal, 85-70, with a little over two minutes left in the game.