IT seems like maintaining their fiery starts is beginning to become an issue for the Zamboanga Valientes in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championships
A day after blowing a 15-point lead against Al Sharja Club, the Valientes blew a 17-point lead this time around, succumbing to Al Ahly Tripoli, 107-84, at the Al Nasr Club in Doha.
READ: SGA scores second straight win as Valientes stumble out the gates in Dubai
Like their first game, the Valientes came out firing off the gates behind their one-two combo reinforcements in Adonis Thomas and Sam Deguara as they took a 28-19 lead after the first quarter.
They padded that lead to 17, 36-19, in the 7:35 mark of second with UST star Nic Cabanero and former UAAP MVP Malick Diouf joining the fray.
But the Libyan squad responded with a humongous 24-3 run to retake control of the game even before the halftime break and take the lead they’d never surrender.
Still, the Valientes were pretty much in the game up until midway through the fourth, as they were only down by six, 86-80, with 6:08 remaining following a Thomas three-pointer.
But that proved to be their last stand as Al Ahly had the necessary killer instinct to put the game away, wrapping things up with a 21-4 run behind Deng Yak who scored 11, on three triples, in that stretch.
Mohamed Sadi led Al Ahli with 25, Wuat Alok added 24 while Yak finished with 17 for the Libyans.
Deguara once again led the way for the Valientes with 25 points, eight rebounds, a steal and a block while Thomas added 24 points on four triples.
Local support seems to be the problem for the Valientes as Cabanero was the only other player in double-digits, finishing with 14 points in the loss that sent them to 0-2 for the tournament.
Up next for the Valientes is Shabazz Muhammad and the Sagesse Sports Club set on Wednesday 1 AM (Philippine time).
Meanwhile, Strong Group Athletics will target win no.3 when they take on Beirut First on Tuesday, 1 AM.
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