Andre Roberson shines anew as Strong Group blasts Japan squad for 2-0 Jones Cup start 

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For the second straight game, former NBA player Andre Roberson leads the charge for Strong Group Athletics-Philippines, while Rhenz Abando puts together an all-around outing as they win back-to-back games to start their Jones Cup title defense

MANILA, Philippines – Strong Group Athletics-Philippines got off to a 2-0 start in the 2025 William Jones Cup after defeating the Japan Developmental Team, 79-67, at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in Taiwan on Monday, July 14. 

For the second game in a row, former Oklahoma City Thunder swingman Andre Roberson led the charge for SGA as he recorded team-highs of 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks in the wire-to-wire win. 

Filipino-American guard DJ Fenner backed up Roberson with a near-double-double of 14 points and 8 rebounds, while Javi Gomez de Liaño stepped up with 13 markers on an efficient 6-of-8 field goal clip.

Rhenz Abando put together 11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, while import Tajuan Agee also breached the double-digit scoring mark for Strong Group with 10. 

In contrast to their opening-day victory against Chinese Taipei-Blue where they trailed by as many as 14 points in the first quarter, the Filipinos started off strong, building an early double-digit separation over Japan, 17-7, six minutes into the contest.

Strong Group, however, failed to protect its double-digit advantage as the young Japanese squad managed to pull within a point at the 3:47 mark of the second quarter, 26-27, before eventually tying things up early in the third frame, 39-all.

Unfortunately for Japan, the Philippines woke up just in time as it responded with a huge 16-3 blast for a 55-42 cushion with 2:38 to play in the third. 

Strong Group’s lead then grew to its biggest at 18 points late in the fourth period off an and-one play by Dave Ildefonso as the team coasted to its second victory in the single round-robin tournament.

The Philippines aims to stay undefeated in its title-retention bid when it battles Qatar at 5 pm on Tuesday, July 15. – Rappler.com