Strong Group overcomes injuries, cruises past Japan U22 in Jones Cup

The Philippines’ Strong Group Athletics remained undefeated in the 2024 William Jones Cup Men’s Basketball Tournament, overcoming a depleted roster to defeat Japan’s Under-22 team by a score of 92-79 on Friday, July 19th, at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in Taiwan.

This victory extends their perfect record to a remarkable 6-0 and secures a top-two finish in the tournament.

Despite missing key players Rhenz Abando, Ange Kouame, and Tajuan Agee due to injuries and illness, Strong Group displayed remarkable resilience. They controlled the game from start to finish, leading by as many as 18 points in the second half.

Chris McCullough emerged as the offensive leader for Strong Group, pouring in a game-high 26 points on a stellar 12-of-17 shooting performance. He received valuable support from Filipino-American guard DJ Fenner, who provided a spark off the bench with 17 points, including a perfect 3-of-3 shooting performance in the second quarter.

Jordan Heading and Kiefer Ravena continued their consistent play, contributing 11 and 9 points respectively. In the absence of Kouame and Agee, big man Geo Chiu stepped up with a solid performance, recording 8 points and 7 rebounds.

Strong Group dominated statistically throughout the game. They shot a higher percentage from both two-point range (69.0% vs. 43.8%) and three-point range (27.8% vs. 33.3%). They also outrebounded Japan (42 rebounds vs. 28 rebounds) and generated more assists (25 vs. 19).

Hiyuu Ozawa paced the Japanese offense with 17 points, including five three-pointers. John Harper, Ryosuke Saeki, and Ryosei Saito each chipped in with 10 points for the young Japanese squad.

WATCH: Strong Group-Philippines vs. Japan U22 (July 19, 2024) Game Highlights

With this victory, Strong Group secures a spot in the championship picture. They will face Chinese Taipei-Team B on Saturday before a highly anticipated matchup against fellow undefeated team Chinese Taipei-Team A on Sunday.

The team with the best record at the end of the tournament will be crowned champion.

Strong Group’s resilience and depth have been on full display throughout the competition. Can they maintain their undefeated record and capture the William Jones Cup title?