Taipei: Strong Group-Philippines head coach Charles Tiu commended Monday the local core in their 67-56 victory over host Chinese Taipei Blue in the opener of the 44th William Jones Cup campaign Sunday night at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium. From a 28-35 halftime deficit, the Filipinos held a 21-4 run to take a 50-39 advantage entering the fourth quarter. They kept the momentum and never looked back.

According to Philippines News Agency, Andre Roberson, a former Oklahoma City Thunder standout, anchored the third-quarter rally. Tajuan Agee, Jason Brickman, Rhenz Abando, DJ Fenner, Dave Ildefonso, and Ian Miller also delivered. Tiu expressed satisfaction with the team composition, highlighting their defensive skills led by Roberson and Agee, alongside commendable performances from local players like Dave, DJ, Rhenz, and Jason.

Roberson concluded the game with 17 points, 19 rebounds, and five steals, contributing significantly to the team's third-quarter performance. Miller added 16 points, while Abando contributed 11 points, three assists, two rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. Tiu remarked that the victory avenged Gilas Pilipinas's earlier loss to the Chinese Taipei national team at the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium, emphasizing the team's preparation and determination to succeed.

Despite the triumph, Tiu acknowledged ongoing challenges with their offense, noting it as a work in progress. However, he stressed the team's focus on defense and their detailed preparation for the competition. Strong Group is set to return to action against Japan's developmental team on Monday at 5 p.m.