Ahead of Strong Group Athletics (SGA) Philippines’ three-peat bid at the 45th William Jones Cup, head coach Charles Tiu is confident that he can give every player equal opportunities, especially with the jam-packed schedule awaiting SGA Philippines.
8 Games in 10 Days for SGA
From August 14 to 23, much like in previous editions of the Jones Cup, each team will endure a grueling schedule, playing three consecutive games before getting a one-day break.
With that in mind, Tiu believes every player will have enough opportunities to showcase his abilities.
“It’s a tournament where we’ll play 8 games in 10 days. It’s never an easy thing, so I think everybody will have enough opportunity to perform,” said Tiu.
The Philippines have been drawn into Group A of the preliminary round alongside Chinese Taipei Blue, DB Promy of South Korea, and Japan. They will face these three teams twice before advancing to crossover classification and playoff matches against teams from Group B.
Group B consists of UC Irvine of the United States, Chinese Taipei White, Jordan, and Malaysia.
Managing minutes in a loaded squad like SGA is never easy, but with this compressed schedule, all 12 players will surely have plenty of opportunities to showcase their skills in international competition.
Knowing the Roles for Each Player
Tiu is using the lead-up to the tournament to assign specific roles to his players.
“It’s up to them to compete for the minutes. We’ll see. The guys are competitors, [and] I like what I’m seeing in the practices so far,” he said.
Accepting roles will be critical for a team whose every player could potentially start for another club in a different tournament. No wonder Tiu is stressing the need for everyone to understand and embrace his role.
“It’s a challenge that everybody will play, but we also got some guys that know their roles in the team, which I think is good. We’ll figure it out,” Tiu added.
Who Could Be the Starting 5 of SGA?
Former NBA veteran Boban Marjanović is likely a lock for the starting center spot. As for the other four starters, the competition is wide open.
- Guards: Fil-Am standout Remy Martin has the talent and pedigree to start, while Titing Manalili makes a strong case as a pass-first point guard who can facilitate the offense. Athletic guard DJ Fenner adds versatility, stretching the floor and attacking the lane.
- Wings: Matthew Wright is a proven three-point shooter, Will Navarro offers an all-around game, and Dave Ildefonso brings two-way impact while also functioning as a combo guard.
- Power Forwards: Puerto Rican Isaiah Piñeiro, former UP Fighting Maroon Malick Diouf, and 6-foot-9 Tajuan Agee all provide options for the frontcourt.
Needless to say, Coach Charles Tiu and his staff have plenty of good problems to solve as they prepare for the 45th William Jones Cup.
