DeMarcus Cousins flexed his might and powered Strong Group Athletics to an 85-78 victory against Beirut First to remain unbeaten in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship early Tuesday, Jan. 28 (Manila time). 

After a quiet 8-point output in their last contest, Cousins unleashed his inner beast and led SGA’s offensive rally, especially in the early part of the final frame where the Philippine-based club hiked its lead to 75-54 – a hump that the Lebanese cagers failed to traverse.

SGA kept its record pristine in the Dubai cagefest with a 3-0 card while Beirut fell to 2-1 in Group A standings.

Cousins, a four-time NBA All-Star, notched 26 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block while Angge Kouame and Dave Ildefonso also took the spotlight with 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Kouame, who hauled eight rebounds as well, stepped up and made huge contributions for SGA as Chris McCullough had a measly showing, finishing only with six points off 1-of-7 shooting in almost 22 minutes of play.

Sergio El Darwich topped Beirut’s scoring column with 26 points while Mohamad Haidar added 18 in a losing cause.

SGA clashes with Amman United (0-2) for its final preliminary assignment this Wednesday, Jan. 29, at the same venue.

Meanwhile in Group B, Zamboanga Valientes (0-2) gun for their first win when they challenge Beirut-based Sagesse SC (1-1) late Tuesday.