Strong Group Athletics has made a last-minute change to its lineup for the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship, bringing back Chris McCullough to replace Terry Larrier.
McCullough rejoins Strong Group after spearheading their triumph in the 2024 William Jones Cup last July.
There, he delivered a stellar performance that earned him tournament MVP honors.
The former San Miguel import averaged 21.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game in the Jones Cup.
“Thankful he decided to play for us again. He just wanted to hoop. To be honest, he was the one who found ways to get permission to play for us, and it says a lot about him wanting to play for the Philippines,” Strong Group head coach Charles Tiu shared.
“We’ve got a good relationship, and I’m so looking forward to working with him again.”
McCullough will join a roster headlined by imports Demarcus Cousins and Malachi Richardson.
Completing the team are Rhenz Abando, Dave Ildefonso, Jason Brickman, Mikey Williams, Angelo Kouame, Andray Blatche, Allen Liwag, Tony Ynot, and Justine Sanchez.
Strong Group president Jacob Lao emphasized the tough preparation for this campaign, expressing hope to bring home the Philippines’ second-ever Dubai title.
“We left no stones unturned in assembling this team. From the coaching staff to the roster, every decision was made with the goal of giving our country another historic championship,” Lao said.
This year’s squad feels determined to avenge their heartbreaking loss in last year’s final against Al Riyadi.
Strong Group will open their campaign in the elimination round on Friday against the Dubai National Team at 11:00 PM (Manila time).
They will then face Al Nasr on Sunday at 1:00 AM, Amman on Tuesday at 1:00 AM, and Beirut on Thursday at 1:00 AM.
The top four teams will advance to the crossover quarterfinals.
