Strong Group Athletics’s DJ Fenner during a William Jones Cup game against Qatar. –HANDOUT PHOTO
DJ Fenner and Javi Gomez de Liano powered Strong Group Athletics to an 81-54 win over Qatar in the 44th William Jones Cup Tuesday night at Xinzhuang Gymnasium.
The win pushed the Philippine representatives to 3-0, keeping pace with fellow unbeaten team Bahrain (4-0) and extending its Jones Cup streak to 11 games, dating back to last year’s title run.
“Defense has been great for us. That’s what we’ve been preaching from day one,” said head coach Charles Tiu. “We held another team to below 60.”
Fenner led a fast start with 16 first-half points as Strong Group built a double-digit lead.
Qatar closed the gap to 13 entering the fourth, but Gomez de Liano sparked a 6-0 run with Andre Roberson and Fenner that stretched the margin to 23, 73-50.
Strong Group Athletics’s Javi Gomez de Liano during a William Jones Cup game against Qatar. –HANDOUT PHOTO
Gomez de Liano hit two long triples and finished with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Fenner also had 18 points, along with seven rebounds.
Ian Miller added 10 points and nine boards. Ildefonso chipped in eight points, five assists, and three rebounds, while Roberson grabbed 10 boards and filled the stat sheet.
Strong Group dominated the hustle stats — leading in rebounds (59-47), assists (19-11), and steals (10-4) — to drop Qatar to 1-3, but Tiu has voiced out concerns about the health of the squad.
“We’re banged up right now,” said Tiu, citing injuries and illness across the roster. “Only issue right now is our health, but we will keep fighting ‘til the end.”
Kiefer Ravena is expected to arrive Wednesday morning and may suit up when Strong Group faces Australia at 5 p.m.
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