WONDROUS WIN IN SURAKARTA

Shrugging off three deflating draws, the Philippines delivered the victory that counted the most in the final push for the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup semifinals.

- By OLMIN LEYBA

Former NBA All-Star Demarcus Cousins is set to strut his stuff for a Philippine ball club once again.

The 6-foot-10 anchor has been signed by Strong Group Athletics (SGA) over the weekend as its first player for a redemption tour in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship on Jan. 24 to Feb. 2.

SGA will be the second Filipino team of the 34-year-old NBA standout after serving as a key cog for the Zamboanga Valientes in their championship run in The Asian Tournament this year.

A fifth overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Cousins is expected to provide a steady presence for SGA that's out to improve on its runner-up finish to Al Riyadi of Lebanon last year.

"We worked hard to get DeMarcus. I've heard great feedback about him, and I've

Terrafirma put up its fiercest attempt at a breakthrough win yet. But Rain or Shine, determined to keep its streak, extinguished the Dyip threat with a strong finishing kick.

Locked in a roller-coaster contest featuring eight deadlocks and 18 lead changes, ROS unleashed a 26-17 closing barrage en route to a 124-112 victory in the PBA Commissioner's Cup last night at the PhilSports Arena.

The Elasto Painters set the tone for this final breakaway with 13 unanswered points in a five-minute stretch that got them to a 117-108 cushion off a four-point deficit.