Strong Group Athletics (basketball)

Strong Group Athletics
Strong Group Athletics logo
LeaguesN/A
Team managerJacob Lao
Head coachCharles Tiu
OwnershipStrong Group Athletics
ChampionshipsWilliam Jones Cup: 2 (2024, 2025)
Websitewww.sgathletics.com

Strong Group Athletics (SGA) is a men's basketball team based in the Philippines. It is owned and managed by an organization of the same name, which was founded by the Filipino businessman Frank Lao.[1] They are not part of any domestic leagues but a frequent participant of international club tournaments such as the William Jones Cup and the Dubai International Basketball Championship.

History

2023 Dubai tournament

The Strong Group Athletics (SGA) organization maintains its own basketball team which has competed in various international tournament.

SGA debuted in the 2023 Dubai International Basketball Championship in the United Arab Emirates, with Mighty Sports and Acto City sponsoring their stint.[2] Mighty Sports, which was owned by Caesar Wongchuking, gave way to help Jacob Lao transition from being a collegiate player to a sports official.[3] Lao is the son of businessman and sports patron Frank Lao.[4]

SGA had Charles Tiu as coach who formerly guided Mighty and its roster is reinforced by former NBA players.[3][4] While the team was being formed as early as December 2022, training only began on January 11, 2023 for the tournament which began late that month.[3][5] Strong Group finished as quarterfinalists.[6]

2024 tournaments

They returned in 2024 edition with Tiu reprising his role and backed by Brian Goorjian as team consultant.[7] Concluding their 2023 campaign as a disappointment, SGA continued their policy of tapping former NBA players.[4] They reached the final, but lost the title to Lebanese club Al Riyadi.[8] They took part at the 2024 William Jones Cup in 2024 and finished as champions.[9]

2025 Dubai tournament

SGA returned in the 2025 edition of the Dubai tournament.[10][11] They lost the semifinals against Tunisia and boycotted the third place playoff in protest of the officiating.[12][13] They finished fourth, with their final game ruled as a 0–20 default.[14][15] Philippine Basketball Association commissioner, William Marcial expressed his preference that SGA should have played the game as it is representing the Philippines in the tournament.[16]

2025 and 2026 William Jones Cup

They defended their William Jones Cup title in the 2025 edition[17][18] In the 2026 edition, SGA failed to defend their title despite placing second in a group of four teams with the host team to the semifinals advancing regardless of the result.[19][20] SGA won its last match, the fifth place game against Jordan.[21]

Current roster

The following is the roster of the Strong Group for the 2025 William Jones Cup.[22]

Strong Group – 2025 William Jones Cup roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
Head coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (I) Import
  • Nat. – Flags indicate national team
    eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events
  • Age – describes age
    on January 24, 2025

Players

Player Nationality Tournament
2023 2024 2025
DIBC[23][24] DIBC[7][25][26] WJC[27] DIBC[7][25][26] WJC[22]
Rhenz Abando PhilippinesYes
RJ Abarrientos PhilippinesYes
Tajuan Agee United StatesYes
BJ Andrade PhilippinesYes
Renaldo Balkman Puerto RicoYes
Justine Baltazar PhilippinesYes
Sedrick Barefield PhilippinesYes
Andray Blatche PhilippinesYes
JD Cagulangan PhilippinesYesYes
Geo Chiu PhilippinesYes
Francis Escandor PhilippinesYes
DJ Fenner United StatesYes
Inand Fornillos PhilippinesYes
Will Gozum PhilippinesYes
Jordan Heading PhilippinesYesYes
Dwight Howard United StatesYes
Dave Ildefonso PhilippinesYes
Ange Kouame PhilippinesYes
Jacob Lao PhilippinesYes
Jerom Lastimosa PhilippinesYes
Allen Liwag PhilippinesYesYes
Francis Lopez PhilippinesYes
Jonathan Manalili PhilippinesYes
McKenzie Moore United StatesYes
Chris McCullough United StatesYes
Shabazz Muhammad United StatesYes
Miguel Oczon PhilippinesYes
Kevin Quiambao PhilippinesYesYes
Kiefer Ravena PhilippinesYes
André Roberson United StatesYes Yes
Justine Sanchez PhilippinesYes
Caelan Tiongson PhilippinesYes
Tony Ynot PhilippinesYesYes
Nick Young United StatesYes
Javi Gomez de Liano Philippines Yes
Ian Miller United States Yes

Head coaches

Honors

Champions (2): 2024, 2025
  • Dubai International Basketball Championship
Runner-up (1): 2024

See also

References

  1. ↑ "UAAP: Lady Warriors boost roster as California Academy standouts commit to UE". ABS-CBN News. July 19, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Strong Group begins Dubai campaign vs UAE national team". Manila Bulletin. January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Li, Matthew (December 23, 2022). "Mighty Sports gives way as Jacob Lao's Strong Group to rep PH in Dubai meet". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 Abello, Mikko (April 18, 2024). "Meet the Twentysomething Guy Backing Some of Your Favorite Local Sports Teams". Esquire. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
  5. ↑ Carandang, Justin Kenneth (January 26, 2023). "Despite challenges in preparation, Charles Tiu hopes for the best for Strong Group in Dubai tilt". GMA News Online. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
  6. ↑ Agcaoili, Lance (February 3, 2023). "Strong Group-PH bows out of contention in Dubai". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 Sayson, Homer (January 3, 2024). "Strong Group taps Howard, Blatche, Goorjian for Dubai. Is Brownlee next?". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Strong Group falters vs. Al Riyadi in wild Dubai finals encounter". GMA News. January 29, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  9. ↑ Anzures, Rom (July 21, 2025). "SGA spoils Taipei-A's party to rule 43rd Jones Cup". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  10. ↑ Fuertes, Rommel Jr. (January 11, 2025). "Strong Group brings back key cogs for upcoming Dubai tilt". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  11. ↑ Suing, Ivan (January 12, 2025). "SGA ready for redemption". Daily Tribune. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  12. ↑ Badua, Snow (February 2, 2025). "SGA mulls boycotting Dubai third-place game: 'Sama talaga ng tawagan'". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Respect The Game: Strong Group Withdraws from Dubai Bronze Game". Strong Group Athletics. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  14. ↑ Jabbour, Jony (February 3, 2025). "«بيروت» بطلاً لـ «سلة دبي»" [“Beirut” champions of “Dubai Basketball”]. Emarat Al Youm (in Arabic). Retrieved August 14, 2026.
  15. ↑ Micaller, Bea (February 3, 2025). "Beirut First beats Tunisia to rule Dubai International Basketball Championship". GMA News. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
  16. ↑ Micaller, Bea (February 11, 2025). "PBA execs hoped that SGA still played in Dubai bronze medal game". GMA News Online. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Strong Group-Pilipinas runs it back for Jones Cup title defense". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. June 28, 2025. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Jones Cup: Strong Group completes sweep, wins back-to-back titles". Philippine Daily Inquirer. July 21, 2025. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Heavily reinforced PH squad opens 'three-peat' bid vs Koreans". Philippine Daily Inquirer. August 14, 2026. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
  20. ↑ Dioquino, Delfin (August 20, 2026). "SGA denied Jones Cup 3-peat due to unusual format; Chinese Taipei federation apologizes". Rappler. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  21. ↑ Villanueva, Ralph Edwin (August 22, 2026). "Strong Group sees self as 'People's Champ' in controversial Jones Cup". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  22. 1 2 "Strong Group taps 2 imports to complete Jones Cup team". www.pna.gov.ph. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  23. ↑ Li, Matthew (January 24, 2023). "Kevin Quiambao replaces Kouame in Strong Group lineup". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  24. ↑ Agcaoili, Lance (January 29, 2023). "Shabazz Muhammad fuels Strong Group-PH to another win in Dubai". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  25. 1 2 "Strong Group brings in Quiambao, Topex, Escandor, CSB trio for Dubai meet". Tiebreaker Times. January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  26. 1 2 Ulanday, John Bryan (January 18, 2024). "Strong Group puts loaded lineup to test vs UAE". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Dave Ildefonso completes Strong Group-Pilipinas roster for Jones Cup". Tiebreaker Times. June 15, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
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