USB-A to USB-C (m-m) not passing power from MBP (11-2016) to external drive.

I have a MacBook Pro (Nov 2017 w/o Touch Bar) and am trying to directly connect an SSD external drive (that I use for Time Machine) installed in a Sabrent Model# EC-UASP enclosure using a M-M USB-A 3.0 to USB-C cable.

Currently, I connect the external drive using a USB-A, 3.0 cable through an Apple or Amazon Basics USB-A to USB-C adapter. The drive gets power and functions normally.

When I use the direct USB-A to USB-C cable (no adapter) the drive receives no power and, obviously, does not mount.
I have tried Belkin and Amazon Basics M-M USB-A 3.0 to USB-C cables and neither works.

I know there are issues with USB-C specs/performance relative to charging USB-C devices such as the cables allowing too much power, but this seems different issue.

Are there specific M-M USB-A 3.0 to USB-C cables that will allow power to pass from the MacBook to an external drive? All of the available cables I have seen
state that they are capable of doing what I want to do, but I am starting to wonder if blanket statements being made by vendors about capabilities that do not exist in certain M-M USB-A 3.0 to USB-C cables.

MacBook Pro

November 2016 w/o Touch Bar