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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Jones Cup: SGA goes two in a row, turns back Japan U25

Jones Cup: SGA goes two in a row, turns back Japan U25

Published Jul 14, 2025 07:44 pm

At A Glance

  • Strong Group Athletics trounced Japan's U25 Team, 79-67, to make it two in a row in the 44th William Jones Cup at the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium in Taiwan Monday, July 14.
(SGA)
(SGA)
Strong Group Athletics trounced Japan’s U25 Team, 79-67, to make it two in a row in the 44th William Jones Cup at the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium in Taiwan Monday, July 14.
Far from its sluggish start in its 67-56 win over Chinese Taipei Blue, SGA got off to a strong opening over the Japanese team and protected the lead all the way for its second win in as many games.
SGA goes for a third straight victory when it battles Qatar Team B Tuesday, July 15, at 5 p.m.
Japan U25, for its part, dropped its record to 1-2 and will try to regain its winning form against Malaysia Wednesday, July 16.
After scoring only three points in SGA’s opener, Javi Gomez de Liaño bared his fangs after leading the Charles Tiu-mentored team in the first half before ending up with 13 points.
Former NBA defensive specialist Andre Roberson topscored anew with 15 points along with 14 rebounds, one assist, and five blocks, while DJ Fenner added 14 points.
Rhenz Abando (11), Tajuan Agee (10), Ian Miller (7), and Allen Liwag (6) also sparked SGA’s offensive power.
Hiyuu Ozawa was impressive for the Japanese side after he uncorked 21 points, while Kotetsu Kurokawa backed him up with 13 points which all went down the drain.
Moving on from a shaky performance in the opening minutes of its previous game against Taipei Blue, SGA made its presence felt right away as it took off to an early double-digit lead.
Japan, though, made a rally in the second frame where it trimmed the gap to just four, 31-35.
However, the youthful Japanese lost their momentum in the next two quarters as Roberson, Gómez de Liaño, Abando, and Fenner provided the answers for the Filipino cagers to close out the match.

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