Strong Group wallops Korean squad, heads to must-win Jones Cup game

MANILA, Philippines -- Despite getting its fourth straight win in the Jones Cup, Strong Group Athletics sees its three-peat aspirations resting on thin ice. 

SGA got its revenge on Korean squad Wonju DB Promy, 113-87, Wednesday at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City. 

The Philippine-based rose to 4-1, tied with Wonju for the top spot of Group A play, but is still outside looking in on a semifinal berth. 

This is because home team Chinese Taipei - Blue (1-3) is already assured of a semifinal berth. Only the top team will grab the other semifinal seed. 

And since SGA won by 26 points, Wonju remains on top of the standings because they defeated Strong Group by 31 points, 79-110, in their first matchup. 

Thursday’s games are crucial for the Philippines. 

SGA will need a Japan victory over Promy, and a win over Chinese Taipei - Blue, to keep the three-peat hopes alive. 

Still, it was a huge win for SGA, which got a solid performance from Matthew Wright.

Wright finished with 24 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 6-of-10 from deep, to go with five assists and three rebounds. Tajuan Agee added 22 markers before fouling out in the fourth quarter. 

“This one really hurts. It’s rare to win a game and still feel disappointed. We were so close. We prepared well and really gave ourselves a chance to win, but the 32-point margin was just too much for us to overcome. I can’t sing enough praises for our team and the way we fought in this game. We played some really good basketball," said Strong Group head coach Charles Tiu.

“Even the Korean coach (Lee Kyu-seop) was complaining about how bad the format of the tournament is. If only we knew from the start that this was the format, then for sure things would have been different.”

SGA started off the game waxing hot, going up 26-17 at the end of the first. 

The squad continued on and just blasted off from deep, with Wright leading the way. 

Ethan Alvano, though, erupted in the fourth --making nine of his 10 field goals in the frame --and saved the Korean team’s grasp on the top spot. 

The Filipino-American guard Alvano paced Promy with 37 points on 14-of-25 shooting, to go with seven assists and five rebounds. Sangjae Kang chipped in 19 markers for the Korean squad, while Yujin Lee had 11. 

The all-important SGA-Taiwan matchup will be on Thursday, 7 p.m., at the same venue.