Strong Group-PH keeps six holdovers for Jones Cup title defense

Dave Ildefonso during an open training with the Jones Cup-bound Strong Group Athletics team. -SGA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines— Strong Group-Pilipinas will lean on a familiar core as it chases a third straight championship in the 45th William Jones Cup from August 8 to 23 at New Taipei City Xinzhuang Gymnasium.

Returning to the squad are Dave Ildefonso, DJ Fenner, Angelo Kouame, Tajuan Agee, Allen Liwag and Titing Manalili, all of whom were part of the team’s back-to-back title runs.

“Just excited to have some of our core guys still there to help us go for our three-peat,” longtime coach Charles Tiu said. “It really helps having that familiarity, especially with a lot of new guys coming in and such a short preparation time. I love coaching this group of guys.”

Agee has anchored Strong Group’s last two Jones Cup campaigns. Last year, the 6-foot-9 forward averaged 15.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

Ildefonso and Fenner also played key roles in last year’s title run. Ildefonso averaged 8.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steal per game, while Fenner contributed 10.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals.

Kouame appeared in four games in last year’s tournament before his campaign was cut short, while Liwag of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and Manalili of Colegio de San Juan de Letran round out the returning group.

The six holdovers will be joined by Serbian veteran Boban Marjanović as Strong Group-Pilipinas looks to complete a three-peat.

Strong Group-Pilipinas was drawn into a preliminary-round group with Chinese Taipei Blue, Korea and Japan.