Strong Group Athletics-Pilipinas suffered a tough start in its opening assignment of the 45th William Jones Cup, absorbing a 110-79 defeat to South Korea’s Wonju DB Promy on Friday, August 14.
The loss snapped SGA’s 16-game winning streak in the tournament and marked its first setback after back-to-back championship runs.
Wonju DB Promy Takes Early Control
South Korea immediately asserted its dominance in the opening period, racing to a 28-15 advantage as Strong Group struggled to find its rhythm offensively.
The Filipinos shot just 5-of-16 from the field in the first quarter, while the Korean side attacked efficiently on the other end. Wonju continued to build momentum in the second frame, outscoring Strong Group 28-21 to take a commanding 56-36 lead into halftime.
Strong Group tried to respond after the break, but Wonju consistently found ways to keep the Philippine squad at a comfortable distance.
Ethan Alvano’s Offense Too Much to Handle
Wonju’s outside shooting proved decisive throughout the contest. The Korean Basketball League side knocked down 17 three-pointers and moved the ball effectively, finishing with 30 assists.
Rayshaun Hammonds led the charge with 25 points and 14 rebounds, while Filipino-American guard Ethan Alvano added 21 points to help Wonju maintain control.
The Korean side eventually stretched its advantage to as many as 33 points, making a comeback increasingly unlikely for Strong Group.
Tajuan Agee Leads Strong Group
Tajuan Agee provided the biggest spark for Strong Group, finishing with a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds, along with 3 assists and a steal.
Isaiah Piñeiro contributed 13 points and 8 rebounds, while Malick Diouf added 10 points. William Navarro, DJ Fenner, and Titing Manalili also chipped in offensively, but their efforts were not enough to overcome Wonju’s commanding lead.
Meanwhile, Serbian NBA veteran Boban Marjanović endured a difficult Jones Cup debut, finishing with only 6 points and 1 rebound on 3-of-11 shooting. Remy Martin also struggled, scoring just 3 points.
Strong Group Looks to Bounce Back Against Japan
The defeat marked the first setback in Strong Group’s bid for a Jones Cup three-peat.
Head coach Charles Tiu and his squad will have an immediate opportunity to respond when they face Japan on Saturday, August 15, at 3:00 p.m.
