Strong Group Athletics starts its road to redemption on Friday when it battles the United Arab Emirates (UAE) national team in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship.

Game time is at 11 p.m. (Manila time) at the Al Nasr Sports Club as Strong Group will look to make a good first impression in this prestigious club tournament.

Strong Group and UAE are in Group A along with Beirut First of Lebanon, home bet Al Nasr, and Amman United of Jordan.

Meanwhile, another Filipino squad in Zamboanga Valientes is in Group B along with Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya, Sharjah SC of UAE, Lebanese ball club Sagesse SC, and the Tunisia national team.

The top four teams of each group will advance to the knockout playoffs to determine the new champion.

With defending champion Al Riyadi not participating this year, Strong Group hopes to claim the title this year after their championship run in the 43rd William Jones Cup last year.

Rhenz Abando, Dave Ildefonso, Ange Kouame, Tony Ynot, Allen Liwag and Chris McCullough all returned to play for Strong Group with head coach Charles Tiu once again calling the shots.

Filipino-American guard Mikey Williams also joins the group with Jason Brickman, and National Basketball Association (NBA) veterans Malachi Richardson and Andray Blatche, who hinted of retiring after this stint.

But Strong Group’s biggest name this year is none other than four-time NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins.

Cousins can’t wait to share the floor with Strong Group as he eyes another title in his resume.

The 34-year-old big man won The Asian Tournament twice last year with Zamboanga Valientes and the Taiwan Mustangs.

“Just me, with this stage in my career, being able to play all over the world, each spot I go, it just amazes me with the talent that’s just all around the world. This is just another testimony of that,” Cousins said.

“Like I said earlier, we have a really talented team, and I’m excited to move forward.”

Tiu is excited about the squad’s chances as they look to take the title this year.

“I’m excited because I really feel this year I think we have a better chance. I think we have a really good group of local players. I think that’s going to be a big difference for us,” Tiu said.