Strong Group wins Jones Cup title, escapes Chinese Taipei-A in OT

Strong Group Athletics at the 43rd William Jones Cup in Taiwan.–SGA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Strong Group Athletics ruled the 43rd William Jones Cup but not after surviving Chinese Taipei-A, 83-79, in overtime on Sunday night at Xinzhuang Gymnasium in Taiwan.

The Philippine side reclaimed the title it last won in 2019 when it was represented by Mighty Sports.

SGA, which also overcame the absence of its main man Chris McCullough, who fouled out with still two minutes left in OT, got its first real test in the tournament after blowing past the competition in its past seven games.

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Tajuan Agee led Strong Group with 21 points and nine rebounds before fouling out as well with 14.4 remaining. McCullough had his worst game of the Jones Cup as he was limited to just 12 points and five rebounds.

Taipei had a chance to force a second OT but Jian Hao Ma, who drew Agee’s last foul, split his charities before Jordan Heading made a pair of freebies that gave Strong Group an 82-79 cushion.

Strong Group was on the brink of a stunning defeat after staring at a 71-64 hole with only 1:03 to go in regulation before responding with nine unanswered points capped by a Kiefer Ravena triple off a steal for a 73-71 edge with 13.2 seconds left.

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But Chinese Taipei was determined to score an upset, knotting the count at 73 on a Brandon Gilbeck basket to extend the game.

RJ Abarrientos led Strong Group locals with 14 points while Ravena added nine points.

He Bo finished with 16 points for the hosts, who absorbed their only defeat of the tournament.