Strong Group becomes first Philippine team to repeat as Jones Cup champion

Strong Group Philippines carved their name into the record books on Saturday, becoming the first Philippine team to win back-to-back championships in the 44-year history of the William Jones Cup.

SGA capped its historic title defense with a commanding 92–68 win over Bahrain at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium, securing the 2024 crown with a perfect 7–0 record and one game still to play.

“Feels great to win again,” said head coach Charles Tiu.

“We prepared hard for this tournament. Our players played hard throughout—from the locals to the imports. I tip my hat off to them. Great group of guys.”

Behind former NBA forward Andre Roberson’s 25-point, 14-rebound explosion, Strong Group pulled away late and left no doubt in its return to the Jones Cup throne.

SGA’s dominant 14–0 run to open the fourth quarter, sparked by Roberson and Javi Gomez de Liaño, turned a close game into a blowout and clinched a milestone no other Philippine squad has reached.

The win adds another chapter to the country’s proud history in the invitational tournament, joining the likes of Northern Cement (1982), San Miguel (1985), the Centennial Team (1998), Gilas Pilipinas (2012), Mighty Sports (2016, 2019), and Strong Group’s own 2023 title run.

But it’s this back-to-back feat that now sets SGA apart.

“What’s really rare here is the opportunity,” Tiu added. “Just want to give credit to our bosses—Boss Frank and Jacob Lao—for allowing us to run it back again and for the trust to form and build this team.”

Even with the title secured, Tiu isn’t satisfied just yet.

“Hoping we can finish it off with a sweep, even with the championship in tow,” he said.

Strong Group faces the United Arab Emirates in its final assignment—already champions, but eager to put an exclamation point on a perfect run.

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[Editor's note: This article was generated by a member of the One Sports Digital team using AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]