SCHEDULE: Strong Group, Valientes at Dubai Basketball Championship 2025
Strong Group Athletics and Zamboanga Valientes represent the Philippines in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship 2025.
Two teams from the Philippines will be competing in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship 2025 scheduled to begin Friday at Al Nasr Club in Dubai, UAE.
The Strong Group Athletics and Zamboanga Valientes will be representing the country, competing against other teams from the Middle East namely Beirut First (Lebanon), Amman United (Jordan), Al Nasr (UAE), UAE National Team in Group, and Sagesse SC (Lebanon), Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya), Tunisia National Team, and Sharjah SC (UAE) in Group B.
Article continues after this advertisementStrong Group, which is bannered by key Filipino players and former NBA player DeMarcus Cousins, is slotted in Group A while the Valientes, participating in the Dubai tilt for the first time with former NBA swingman Adonis Thomas and collegiate stars running the show, is in Group B.
The teams will play a single round-robin competition against teams from their group. The top four teams will advance to the crossover quarterfinals.
Here is the schedule for the group stage of the competition. Philippine time is four hours ahead of Dubai.
Article continues after this advertisement34th Dubai Basketball Championship 2025 SCHEDULE group stage (Dubai local time)
VENUE: Al Nasr Club – Basketball Court, Dubai
January 24, Friday
- 5pm – Beirut First
vs Al Nasr
- 7pm – Strong Group Athletics
vs UAE NT
- 9pm – Sagesse SC
vs Sharjah SC
January 25, Saturday
- 3pm – Al Ahli Tripoli
vs Tunisia NT
- 5pm – Amman United
vs Beirut First
- 7pm – Zamboanga Valientes
vs Sharjah SC
- 9pm – Al Nasr
vs Strong Group Athletics
January 26, Sunday
- 5pm – UAE NT
vs Amman United
- 7pm – Al Ahli Tripoli
vs Zamboanga Valientes
- 9pm – Sagesse SC
vs Tunisia NT
January 27, Monday
- 7pm – Sharjah SC
vs Al Ahli Tripoli
- 9pm – Strong Group Athletics
vs Beirut First
January 28, Tuesday
- 3pm – Sharjah SC
vs Tunisia NT
- 5pm – Amman United
vs Al Nasr
- 7pm – Beirut First
vs UAE NT
- 9pm – SSagesse SC
vs Zamboanga Valientes
January 29, Wednesday
- 3pm – UAE NT
vs Al Nasr
- 5pm – Tunisia NT
vs Zamboanga Valientes
- 7pm – Sagesse SC
vs Al Ahli Tripoli
- 9pm – Strong Group Athletics
vs Amman United
Strong Group Athletics roster for Dubai Basketball Championship 2025
Dubai-bound Strong Group Athletics in training with coach Charles Tiu. –SGA FACEBOOK/Julius Domondon
Coach: Charles Tiu
- Rhenz Abando
- Dave Ildefonso
- Andray Blatche
- DeMarcus Cousins
- Chris McCullough
- Mikey Williams
- Jason Brickman
- Chris Koon
- Ange Kouame
- Malachi Richardson
- Allen Liwag
- Justine Sanchez
- Tony Ynot
Zamboanga Valientes roster for Dubai Basketball Championship 2025
Zamboanga Valientes during an open workout ahead of the 2025 Dubai International Basketball Tournament. –HANDOUT PHOTO/WENDELL ALINEA
Coach: Bobedick delos Santos
- Samuel Deguara
- Malick Diouf
- Ken Holmovist
- Adonis Thomas
- Prince Caperal
- Nic Cabanero
- Rashawn Mccarthy
- Mike Tolomia
- Forthski Padrigao
- Kyt Jimenez
- Job Alcantara
- Rudy Lingganay
- Denver Cadiz
- Das Esa