(UPDATED - July 22, 2024)
Challenged on the final day, Strong Group-Pilipinas were still not denied, taking victory at the 43rd William Jones Cup after a tough overtime win over hosts Chinese Taipei-A.
The Strong Group victory marked the seventh Jones Cup win for the Philippines, second most by any country in the history of the tournament.
[Related: Strong Group survives Chinese Taipei-A in OT, claims Philippines' seventh Jones Cup crown]
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Strong Group-Pilipinas are on the verge of becoming just the seventh Philippine team to rule the annual William Jones Cup in Taiwan.
Standing in their way is Chinese Taipei Team A, which the Philippine contingent will tackle in a virtual championship match in the 43rd edition of the competition on Sunday, July 21.
The match starts at 7 p.m. at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City in Taiwan, with Chris McCullough once expected to lead the Charles Tiu-mentored Strong Group team.
After sitting the last two games due to injuries, Rhenz Abando (hand) and Ange Kouame (knee) are expected see action in Sunday’s match. The same goes for Tajuan Agee, who also missed two games owing to food poisoning.
"Rhenz’s hand is still swollen and the same goes for Ange’s knee, but they will play through it since this is an all-or-nothing game. They know how important this game is for the country,” said Tiu.
“We will be watching Agee’s minutes closely since he has been very dehydrated because of the gastro issues he suffered. His health is important, but his presence on the court is also crucial for us,” he added.
[RELATED STORY: Rhenz Abando, Ange Kouame available for Strong Group-Pilipinas in Jones Cup finale]
But before the two teams plunge into action later today, let’s take a look at the Filipino squads that lorded over Jones Cup:
1981 - Northern Consolidated Cement
Remember the “foreigner-laced” Cambodian team that made things rough for Gilas in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games?
The Northern Consolidated Cement team that flew the country’s flag in the 1981 Jones Cup gave that same vibes decades prior, with San Beda’s Frankie Lim and JB Yango the only homegrown Filipinos in the roster.
With naturalized players like Jeff Moore and Dennis Still leading the charge for the Ron Jacobs-mentored squad, NCC breezed through the competition, 8-0.
1985 - San Miguel (NCC)
Then playing as San Miguel Beer, NCC fielded more locals four years later in the Jones Cup with budding superstars Allain Caidic, Samboy Lim, and Hector Calma headlining the lineup that also had naturalized players Still, Moore, and Chip Engelland.
That team capped the sweep with a 108-100 thriller over the US, with Engelland, now an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder, finishing with 43 big points in the overtime win.
[ALSO READ: Know what happened in heartwarming reunion of PBA icon Samboy Lim and Team USA’s Chip Engelland]
1998 - Philippine Centennial Team
As part of their preparations for the 1998 Asian Games, the Philippine Centennial Team locked horns in the 21st edition of the Jones Cup.
Considered one of the best national teams ever assembled with the likes of Johnny Abarrientos, Jojo Lastimosa, Alvin Patrimonio, and Kenneth Duremdes suiting up, the Centennial team lorded over the competition.
Unfortunately, the Centennial Team failed to capture the gold in the Asian Games, settling for the bronze medal in Bangkok, Thailand.
2012 - Smart Gilas
It was the dawn of the coach Chot Reyes era for the Gilas program.
Though they lost to Lebanon, 91-72, midway through the competition, the Smart Gilas squad led by naturalized player Marcus Douthit and PBA players LA Tenorio, Gabe Norwood, and Ranidel de Ocampo went on to win it all.
Smart Gilas wrapped up its campaign with a swashbuckling 76-75 win over US, thanks in large part to Tenorio’s heroics in the endgame.
Tenorio came up big in the fourth period, scoring 11 of his 20 points including the game-winning jumper.
In a previous interview with the 2OT Podcast in 2020, Tenorio said the Jones Cup win was one of the most unforgettable performance of his stellar basketball career littered with championships.
"Yun 'yung one of the most memorable, or the one na talagang memorable game sa aking career,” said the eventual MVP, who was traded to Ginebra from Alaska shortly after that.
2016 - Mighty Sports
Mighty Sports Philippines fielded an import-laden team for the 38th staging of the competition, reminiscent of that first NCC team.
Former PBA imports Al Thornton, Hamady Ndiaye, Michael Singletary, and Vernon Macklin bannered that squad that asserted dominance, none more evident in the 104-80 win over Chinese Taipei B in their final assignment.
Among the locals was Jeron Teng, who was then playing for La Salle in the UAAP. Shortly after retiring from Rain or Shine, TY Tang also donned the Mighty Sports colors but played sparingly.
2019 - Mighty Sports-Go for Gold
Before the COVID-19 pandemic struck and disrupted life as we know it, Might Sports-Go for Gold conquered the 41st Jones Cup.
Backstopped by former PBA imports Renaldo Balkman and Eugene Phelps, Might Sports claimed the title even before the competition ended.
In the penultimate day of the Jones Cup, the Philippine contingent drubbed Chinese Taipei A, 97-74, and emerged as champion by virtue of a superior 7-0 win-loss record.
Mikey Williams, Joseph Yeo, Jeremiah Gray, and no. 1 overall pick in that year’s PBA Draft Roosevelt Adams also suited up for the team.
Can Strong Group-Pilipinas join this list?