Dubai International Tournament - 16th Edition 2005 - Al Ahli Stadium

Starters: Elie Mechantaf - Paul Khoury - Bassem Balaa - Kenny Satterfield - Charles Bardawil 
Substitutes:  Jon Ferris - Sabah Khoury - George Chibani -  Samir Gouda
 

Blue Stars started the game very fast and aggressively, trying to dominate the game and disturb Sagesse very early using their experience and readiness. After about 3 minutes of play, the score rose to 12-5, Taylor quickly called for a timeout when his team’s defense seemed unable to stop Blue Stars’ fast breaks and penetrations.

Ferris replaced Balaa after the timeout and Taylor applied zone defense while Brian Bechara tried to take advantage of this and started hitting 3 points. The gap rose to 11 points though and captain Mechantaf sank his own 3 pointer. Sagesse forwards tried to play on the inside after rotating the ball in order to create space for the wings. Soon the come back was perfect and the boys were able to tie 22-22, thanks in great part to Satterfield excellent performance. Bardawil’s 3 pointer forces Blue Stars coach to call for a timeout at 1 minute before the quarter’s end when the score was 26-25 to Blue Stars.
30-29 for Blue Stars is the score at the end of the quarter with the last 4 points signed Satterfield. A significant score as to the offensive and open play from both teams.

Same lineup starts the 2nd quarter, then after one minute Sabah Khoury replaces Balaa while double screening is applied on captain Mechantaf. Once again, Blue Stars fast breaks and Sagesse turnovers allowed the formers to lead again 43-33 after 5 points in a row from Bechara, forcing Taylor to ask for a timeout in an attempt to find a solution for their offensive success.
On the other hand, Blue Stars were focusing on Sagesse 2 major keys, Mechantaf and Satterfield, and they succeeded in their attempt to stop the power source of Sagesse.
Balaa entered in serious foul trouble with 4 fouls, 51-39 to Blue Stars and Khoury scores a 3 pointer reducing the gap to 51-42.
With 2 minutes left, Balaa fouls out while Blue Stars intensifies their offense on the wings rather than on the inside, drawing Sagesse defense to the outer ring then sinking lethal balls signed Fahed, Johnson or Strickland.
Sabah Khoury, Bardawil, Satterfield, Mechantaf and Ferris were finishing the 2nd quarter while the gap 60-43 seemed large enough to be worried about at halftime, with a 3 pointer from Danny Johnson at the buzzer thrown from the middle of the court.
During this 2nd quarter, Blue Stars scored 30 points against 14 to Sagesse only, while they were able to score 29 in the 1st quarter. Satterfield was Sagesse best scorer with 16 points.

Strickland opens the 3rd quarter with a 3 pointer, then Taylor pushes Gouda in the game for the 1st time. Gouda, Satterfield, Mechantaf, Bardawil and Sabah Khoury play when the score gets to 67-49. Some problems in scoring were coming from Sabah on the wing, for he missed good assists from Satterfield and failed to score, providing Blue Stars with fast break opportunities.

Chibani also enters the court on position 1 and the system revolved around Gouda on the inside where he drew fouls or scored. But whenever Sagesse scored, there was Strickland, Johnson, Fahed or Bechara there to score easy 3 points. 
Taylor was playing without Satterfield and Gouda was either assisting or scoring, and the problem seemingly resided in the defense and on the rebounds.
78-63 at the end of the 3rd quarter to Blue Stars with Satterfield still resting on the bench. Note that this quarter’s score was 20-18 to Sagesse.

Chibani, Satterfield, Ferris, Bardawil and Mechantaf started the last quarter. There was obviously no way to solve the defensive problem facing Blue Stars tight and efficient system, applied by skilled players at the top of their shape, synchronization and readiness. It seemed that Sagesse players surrendered early in the 4th quarter to their fate, and their playing became neglectful and negative. Ferris, Mechantaf, Satterfield, Bardawil and Paul Khoury were playing zone defense and Blue stars were succeeding from every angle and position; the score rose to 95-74 and the court became more and more silent as the playing became slower and dull.

Bardawil fouled out and Sagesse points were scored mainly by Satterfield individual attempts and steals, and it is still a question as to why he spent most of the 3rd quarter on the bench when his team was enduring the peak of the pressure and break danger.

The final buzzer stopped the score at 104-88.Tomorrow Sagesse will play against Fastlink from Jordan in the quarter finals.