Strong Group survives scare, extends winning streak to 3-0 in Jones Cup

The Philippines’ Strong Group Athletics squad held on for a thrilling 82-74 victory over Ukraine on Monday, July 15th, at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in Taiwan, to maintain their undefeated record in the 2024 William Jones Cup Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Unlike their previous dominant victories against UAE and Australia’s BSBL Guardians, Strong Group faced a much stiffer challenge against Ukraine.

After leading 27-21 in the first quarter and maintaining a slight edge at halftime (43-41), the Filipinos found themselves trailing 58-54 at the end of the third quarter following a strong run by the Ukrainians.

However, when it mattered most, Chris McCullough emerged as the hero for Strong Group. The former San Miguel import displayed his clutch shooting ability, scoring 8 points in the final two minutes, including a go-ahead three-point play with 1:49 remaining (73-72) followed by a three-pointer. He finished the game as the leading scorer with 28 points, adding 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block to his stat line.

Despite leading for a significant portion of the game, Ukraine’s spirited performance put Strong Group to the test. The Filipinos’ ability to overcome a 9-point deficit in the third quarter and respond with a dominant 28-16 fourth-quarter performance demonstrates their resilience and composure under pressure.

While McCullough provided the late-game heroics, Strong Group benefited from a balanced offensive attack. Jordan Heading chipped in with 24 points, including a clutch 4-for-6 performance from beyond the arc. Kiefer Ravena also stepped up in the crucial fourth quarter, knocking down two key three-pointers and finishing with 10 points and 4 assists.

With this hard-fought victory, Strong Group sits atop the standings with a perfect 3-0 record. They will enjoy a well-deserved rest day on Tuesday before facing Malaysia on Wednesday in their next game of the single-round robin tournament.

This matchup was a close battle statistically. While Ukraine enjoyed a slight edge in rebounding (43-40), Strong Group shot a higher percentage from three-point range (29.2% vs. 27.5%) and made more free throws (69.2% vs. 55%). Ultimately, Strong Group’s clutch execution in the closing minutes proved to be the difference in the game.

This win against a determined Ukrainian team further bolsters Strong Group’s championship aspirations. Can they continue their winning streak and capture the 2024 William Jones Cup Men’s Basketball Tournament title? Fans will be eagerly awaiting their next matchup against Malaysia.