Strong Group Athletics (SGA) members show impressive dedication during practice sessions as they prepare for their upcoming campaign in the 43rd William Jones Cup, set to commence in two weeks.
And coach Charles Tiu liked what he saw.
He expressed optimism following the team’s scrimmages on Tuesday at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong. “I like the way they’re competing in practice. They’re playing hard. They are all intense,” Tiu commented.
The squad will be fully assembled by next week with the addition of Ange Kouame and RJ Abarrientos. Kouame arrived in Manila last weekend and will join the team soon, while Abarrientos is recovering from an injury sustained before he could participate in the scrimmages.
Currently, SGA’s practice roster includes notable players such as Kiefer Ravena, Chris McCullough, Jordan Heading, and Caelan Tiongson. “We’ll probably have a full team by Tuesday next week. It will take a while before RJ can play with contact,” Tiu added.
This marks the first time Strong Group-Philippines will represent the country in the William Jones Cup, to be held from July 13 to 21 at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei, Taiwan.
Earlier this year, SGA made a significant impact by finishing second in the Dubai International Basketball Championship. The team’s roster for that tournament featured stars like Dwight Howard, Kevin Quiambao, Justine Baltazar, Jordan Heading, and Andre Roberson.