Strong Group-Pilipinas will bank on six familiar faces as it chases a third straight title in the 45th William Jones Cup, set for August 8 to 23 at the New Taipei City Xinzhuang Gymnasium.
Returning to the squad are Dave Ildefonso, DJ Fenner, Angelo Kouame, Tajuan Agee, and young standouts Allen Liwag and Titing Manalili, all of whom played key roles in the team’s back-to-back championships.
“Just excited to have some of our core guys still there to help us go for our three-peat,” said longtime Strong Group coach Charles Tiu. “It really helps having that familiarity, especially with a lot of new guys coming in and such a short preparation time. I love coaching this group of guys.”
Agee, the 6-foot-9 forward, has been the team’s cornerstone over the past two Jones Cup campaigns. In last year’s tournament, he averaged 15.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.
Ildefonso and Fenner have likewise been mainstays of Strong Group’s championship runs. Ildefonso averaged 8.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.0 steals per game in last year’s edition, while Fenner contributed 10.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per outing.
Kouame, meanwhile, appeared in four games during the 44th William Jones Cup before his campaign was cut short.
Liwag of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and Manalili of Colegio de San Juan de Letran round out the returning core as the team’s young prospects.
The six holdovers will be joined by Serbian giant Boban Marjanović, as the Bet88-backed Strong Group-Pilipinas looks to extend its dominance in the annual tournament.
Strong Group president Jacob Lao also expressed his appreciation to Abra Solid North Weavers owner Rep. JB Bernos for allowing Ildefonso and Fenner to suit up for the national club once again.
“We’re truly grateful to Congressman JB Bernos and the Abra Solid North Weavers organization for their support and generosity in allowing Dave and DJ to represent Strong Group-Pilipinas once again,” said Lao.
“Their commitment to Philippine basketball goes beyond their own team, and we’re thankful to have them as partners in our pursuit of a third straight Jones Cup championship.”
Strong Group-Pilipinas has been drawn into a preliminary-round group with Chinese Taipei Blue, Korea, and Japan.
Since publishing, Strong Group-Pilipinas has brought in Malick Diouf, as Kouame will be unavailable for the tournament.
