SGA withdraws from Dubai tourney after controversial loss
MANILA, Philippines -- The Strong Group Athletics (SGA) will no longer participate in the bronze medal match of the 34th Dubai International Championship, the team announced Sunday morning (Manila time), following a controversial defeat against Tunisia in the semifinals.
SGA absorbed a 68-63 loss early Sunday morning (Manila time), a game where the squad stormed from 16 points down, but a late seemingly no-call with time winding down finished the game.
With the game going down the wire, and with the Philippine-based squad trailing by three, 63-66 with 12.2 seconds to go, SGA went to Rhenz Abando.
He stepped through the defense and pulled up from deep, but he looked like he was bodied from behind by Mohamed Mokhtar Ghayaza.
The supposed no-call was met with complaints from the team, but ultimately, Radhouane Slimane sank both of his free throws with 3.2 seconds remaining to put the game to bed, 68-63.
In a statement posted on its website after the game, SGA said that they “have officially decided not to participate in the third-place game… as we call for equality and fairness in officiating and for the game to be treated with the proper respect.”
They cited officiating inconsistencies during the contest “that significantly impacted the outcome of the contest.”
“Throughout the game, multiple non-calls were made against us, with crucial decisions favoring Tunisia. The most controversial moment came in the final seconds when we were trailing 66-63,” the team stressed.
“Despite the obvious contact, the referees failed to call a foul, effectively sealing Tunisia’s victory and ending our championship hopes.
“Our decision not to play in the third-place match is not just about one game—it is about advocating for officiating that upholds the spirit of sportsmanship and ensures that all teams are given a fair chance to compete.
“We extend our gratitude to our supporters and assure our fans that despite this unfortunate outcome, we remain committed to representing the Philippines with pride on the global stage,” it added.
After trailing by 16, 33-49, in the third quarter, the Philippine-based squad cut the lead to just seven, 52-59, early on in the fourth frame.
But Tunisia