Strong Group-Pilipinas emerged victorious in a dramatic overtime showdown against host Chinese-Taipei A, securing an 83-79 win in what was a ‘virtual championship’ match for the 43rd William Jones Cup on Sunday evening.
Strong Group displayed resilience in a game marked by a raucous crowd, contentious calls, and a challenging fourth-quarter deficit.
The team fought back from the brink, forcing overtime and eventually overcoming the hosts to claim the coveted international title.
The triumph marked a significant milestone for Strong Group Athletics, whose chairman Frank Lao expressed his heartfelt sentiments after the game.
“We started Strong Group with a dream – to prove that the Filipino athlete can shine on the international stage. This victory is a testament to our relentless pursuit of excellence, done for the pride of our nation,” Lao said.
“Thank you to all our kababayans in the Philippines and our OFWs – this victory is for you! A heartfelt thanks to the SBP, Sir Al Panlilio, and Mam Erika Dy for believing in our players and coaches.”
Strong Group’s head coach, Charles Tiu, was equally emotional about the team’s achievement, which marked the Philippines’ seventh Jones Cup title.
“It is always an honor for me to represent the country in any way, and that was the mantra of the team throughout the tournament. We wanted to give glory to our country. And aside from that, I really wanted to win a championship for Boss Frank and Jacob (Lao). They’ve trusted me a lot, and I wanted to deliver for them,” Tiu remarked.
The game saw standout performances from several players.
Kiefer Ravena delivered a crucial three-pointer with just 13 seconds left in regulation to give Strong Group a 73-71 lead.
Tiu praised Ravena’s clutch play, stating, “Kiefer showed once again what he is made of. There are times when I really wanted to strangle him in the games, but when it is crunch time or winning time, there’s no one I trust more to make big plays, and he delivered in our biggest games against Ukraine and in our championship game.”
RJ Abarrientos also played a pivotal role, consistently contributing throughout the tournament with averages of 9.3 points, 5.1 assists, and 2.3 rebounds.
Tiu noted, “RJ Abarrientos was phenomenal. It was my first time working with him, and he is such a great player. When we drew up a play for him in the first play of overtime and he hit the corner three off the glass, I thought that this might be our game after all.”
Jordan Heading, the sole remnant from Strong Group’s Dubai International Basketball Championship team, also made significant contributions.
“Jordan Heading was closely guarded, and we couldn’t get him any looks. I really wanted him to shoot those free throws, and I trusted that he would knock them down. He went up to me after and said he wasn’t going to miss again after that Dubai game,” Tiu shared.
Looking ahead, Strong Group is already planning its 2025 calendar, which is expected to include another shot at redemption in Dubai and a defense of their Jones Cup title.
Jacob Lao, President of Strong Group, emphasized that recent success was only the beginning.
“This victory is just the beginning. Besides our teams, we will continue to support the SBP and Gilas Pilipinas. We want our program to complement the national team’s efforts and offer help in any way we can,” the young sports executive said.
