Photo credit: Jones Cup | VN Sports Taipei | Strong Group
In a thrilling championship game, Strong Group Pilipinas (8-0) showcased their resilience and determination, overcoming the hosts, Chinese Taipei A (7-1), 83-79, in an intense overtime battle to reclaim the Jones Cup title for the Philippines on Sunday, July 21, 2024, at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City, Taiwan. [VIDEO]
Strong Group completed the sweep and won all 8 games, led by tournament MVP Chris McCullough, who averaged 21.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.1 blocks. The last time a Philippine representative won the title was in 2019, when Mighty Sports-Go for Gold swept the tournament 8-0, led by Renaldo Balkman and Eugene Phelps.
With under a minute left on the clock, Strong Group Pilipinas found themselves down by seven, 64-71. However, through their determination and hard work, they mounted a fierce comeback, executing crucial plays, applying pressure defense, and making clutch shots to tie the game and force it into overtime. The Filipino squad's resilience and never-say-die attitude were on full display as they clawed their way back into contention. In the overtime period, Strong Group Pilipinas outscored Chinese Taipei 10-6 to claim the 7th Jones Cup title for the Philippines.
Import Tajuan Agee led all scorers with 21 points (9/9 FT), along with 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and a block. Fil-Am DJ Fenner had a solid game with 15 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, and 4 steals while RJ Abarrientos scored 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc to go with 2 rebounds, and 1 assist.
Strong Group Pilipinas Roster: Ange Kouame, Kiefer Ravena, Rhenz Abando, Jordan Heading, RJ Abarrientos, Dave Ildefonso, Geo Chiu, Caelan Tiongson, Allen Liwag, Tony Ynot, Jonathan Manalili, DJ Fenner, Chris McCullough (import) and Tajuan Agee (import). (Head coach - Charles Tiu, assisted by Rajko Toroman)
The scores:
STRONG GROUP PH 83 - Agee 21, Fenner 15, Abarrientos 14, McCullough 12, Ravena 9, Abando 6, Heading 4, Kouame 2, Tiongson 0, Ildefonso DNP, Chiu DNP, Ynot DNP, Liwag DNP, Manalili DNP.
ROC-A 79 - RT Hinton 16, CY Chun 13, Gilbeck 11, TH Chun 10, Cheng 8, AT Hinton 8, Hao 6, Su 5, Gao 2, Chien DNP, Sheng DNP, Chieh DNP, Kuan DNP, Huang DNP, Chua DNP.
Quarters: 16-12, 41-34, 55-50, 73-73, 83-79. [VIDEO] | [STATS]
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