Strong Group Athletics (SGA) will be having a “next-man-up” mentality as it plays without star playmaker Kiefer Ravena in the early stretch of the 44th William Jones Cup at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City that started on Sunday.

Filipino-American guard Jason Brickman said all of them must have to step up to fill the void that would be created by Ravena’s absence in the prestigious invitational event.

The Filipino club owned by businessman Frank Lao is facing Chinese Taipei-A at press time with Ravena sitting out due to a prior commitment with his shoe and apparel endorsement.

“The other will also have to step up and make plays. Everybody just needs to chip in,” Brickman, who is familiar with the Taiwanese brand of basketball after serving as an import for the Kaohsiung Aquas, said.

“We have a lot of talented players on our team. I think we just need to have chemistry together and work on our defense.”

Despite Ravena’s absence, SGA still has a surplus of firepower from the likes of Brickman, Ian Miller, Ange Kouame, Dave Ildefonso, Rhenz Abando, DJ Fenner, and imports Tajuan Agee and Andre Roberson.

.After his Jones Cup stint, Brickman said he is weighing his options as he leans towards a stint in the Philippine Basketball Association.

“I’ve been playing with Abra in the MPBL and I was planning to enter this year’s PBA Draft, so we’ll see how everything happens,” Brickman, who is currently calling the plays for Abra in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, said.

“I’m gonna see what happens after this tournament, but obviously I wanna play here in the Philippines. I’m open to any opportunity after this.”