Strong Group eyes sweep of Japanese

Strong Group-Pilipinas looks to sweep Japan when the two teams meet again in the 45th Jones Cup on Tuesday at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City.

Game time is set for 10 a.m. (Manila time) as Strong Group aims for another win to secure one of the top two spots in Group A and strengthen its bid for a third straight Jones Cup title.

Strong Group is riding high after a 97-78 victory over Chinese Taipei Blue last Sunday, with Puerto Rican forward Isaiah Piñeiro and Tajuan Agee scoring 19 points each. Seven-foot-four center Boban Marjanovic also delivered a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Head coach Charles Tiu was pleased to see his squad gradually regain its rhythm.

“Great team win for us. We’re slowly coming together. Remy (Martin) played great, and Boban stepped up,” Tiu said.

“It’s nice to see us playing this way. We’ll slowly get better game by game.”

Strong Group received a reality check after starting its three-peat bid with a sorry 79-110 loss to Korean Basketball League side Wonju DB Promy last Friday.

The Philippines regained its bearings after beating the Japanese, 78-72, last Saturday and delivered another victory at the expense of the Taiwanese.

Tiu, who won four Jones Cup titles with Strong Group and Mighty Sports, said the team still needs to tighten its defense, particularly from beyond the arc.

“We definitely need to defend the three-point line better. That will be key. But it will be about us and building our chemistry,” Tiu said.

Japan, meanwhile, remains winless in the tournament after its latest setback, an 88-63 loss to Wonju.

Strong Group will look to contain Leona Kon, who scored 11 points for Japan in the loss.