Kiefer Ravena made an immediate impact in his return, steering Strong Group Athletics to a wire-to-wire 91–75 victory over Australia for their fourth straight win in the 44th William Jones Cup, Wednesday evening at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City.
Fresh from Jordan Brand’s Board of Greatness event in Athens, Greece, Ravena showed no signs of rust.
The veteran guard delivered six of his nine points in the final stretch of the fourth quarter. He provided the finishing touches to help SGA maintain its perfect 4–0 record, staying within striking distance of still-unbeaten Bahrain (5–0).
“Glad to have Kiefer back, who is really my extension on the court,” said head coach Charles Tiu. “One of the smartest guys I’ve coached, definitely. Makes things easier.”
Ravena’s return was a welcome boost for Tiu’s squad, which continues to manage a slew of minor injuries and illnesses affecting key players such as Andre Roberson, Tajuan Agee, Ian Miller, Rhenz Abando, Dave Ildefonso, Geo Chiu, and Jason Brickman.
Australia, which trailed by as many as 19 points, mounted a last-ditch comeback behind back-to-back triples from Sammy Cartwright and former University of the Philippines standout James Spencer. That cut the lead to just 76–65 with under five minutes remaining.
But Ravena answered with two clutch three-pointers in a decisive 10–2 run that pushed SGA ahead, 86–67, with under two minutes left, effectively icing the game and securing the team’s fourth win in as many outings.
SGA broke the game wide open in the second quarter with a crucial 21–9 run, stretching a narrow 26–21 lead into a commanding 47–30 advantage by halftime. That blitz turned out to be the turning point, as SGA kept Australia at arm’s length for the rest of the contest, entering the fourth quarter with a 68–50 cushion.
“This was our best offensive game of the tournament,” Tiu added. “Guys played well—another game where multiple guys in double digits. Balanced scoring for us, which is what our team is about. Getting everybody involved. Four games down, four to go!”
Just like in their 81–54 rout of Japan the previous day, SGA once again showcased a well-balanced attack. The Filipino squad outclassed the Aussies in multiple categories: rebounds (62–47), assists (25–14), and field goals made (36-of-90).
Roberson recorded his third double-double in four games with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while also dishing out six assists and collecting one steal. Miller also played a solid all-around game, finishing with 12 points, six assists, and one steal.
Agee returned to action with a bang, contributing 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Ange Kouame chipped in 11 points, six rebounds, and one steal.
Ildefonso added 10 points, four rebounds, and two assists, while Javi Gomez de Liaño posted eight points, eight boards, three assists, and two steals.
“Today brought back a lot of memories playing with James, although today we were opponents,” shared Gomez de Liaño, reflecting on facing his former UP teammate. “I’m very proud of how James has grown through the years. He was our rookie during my third year playing for UP.”
SGA will aim to extend its winning streak to five when it battles Chinese Taipei White tomorrow at 5 p.m.
Meanwhile, the loss dropped Australia — a team featuring NBL1 Rising Stars, including Spencer — to 2–3, slipping below the .500 mark.
Mac Stodart led the Aussies with 19 points, five rebounds, three steals, two assists, and a block, while Spencer added 11 points, six rebounds, and five assists.
Australia will get a one-day breather before returning to action against Japan on Friday, July 18.
