SGA, MC CULLOUGH,PBA & SBP

IN the just concluded week, the national passion--basketball—has once again put our country on top of the international and local limelight prior to our 100-year celebration of participation in the Olympics.

The week that was saw newly formed club team, Strong Group Athletics (SGA), which represented the Philippines in the prestigious William Jones Cup, annually held in Taipei,Taiwan. Has given this basketball-loving nation a seventh Jones Cup title and first since 2019.

Aside from winning the championship following a 93-79 victory over host Taiwan national team in overtime and unprecedented seventh title that earned the honour as the winningest participating country in the said tournament.

The last time a Philippine representative club team won this annual event was Mighty Sports five-years ago before the global pandemic caused by Covid-19, disrupted the tournament.

Prior to its title-triumph run,SGA completed an eight-game sweep of the single round elimination including a win over Ukraine, 84-72, Team-USA’s under 23, 112-99, Japan’s under-22, 92-72, Malaysia, 94-54, UAE, 104-74, and Taiwan B-Team, 96-70.

The SGA squad,made of five active Gilas pool members led by the high-leaping Renz Abando, streak-shooting Jordan Heading, playing in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL).

Ravena brothers, Kieffer and Thirdy. Both playing in their respected teams in the Japan B-League and R.J Abbarientos,who was recently picked by Ginebra San Miguel during the Rookie. Draft., and 6”-11’ Ange Koume, playing for Metrople in the French League

Chris McCullough,who was among the five foreign players reinforcing SGA, was named as by organizers as tournament MVP. But his moment of glory was questioned over an alleged game-fixing issue.

McCullough, who also played as import for San Miguel Beer three-years ago, denied the allegation after some fans can’t help notice his lucklaster performance during the finals. He even said its’ absurd and ridiculous.

Though McCullough had 26 points before fouling out two-minutes left in the third quarter, with SGA trailing the Taiwanese, 63-71. Fans noted, has 4-of-12 shooting from the field.

Meantime, back home. Starting this season, the PBA has approved during its board deliberation, in adopting a ?four-point shot rule starting the Commissioner’s and Governor’s Cup,wherein the league will now do away with the “ No-height limit restriction” for imports.

The said four-point shot, is another line drawn five-feet above the existing three-point arc, which likewise drawn pros and con opinion from players, coaches and sports enthusiast.

The four-point shot is actually nothing new in the league, as it was adopted during the last All-Star Games held in Iloilo.

And over in America, Samahan Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Erika Dee and talent identifier and scout Norman Black, both are currently in close contact with the Filipino-community out there in search of younger and skilled tallents, with Filipino heritage.

The search for foreign-born Filipinos and with lineage, will make-up the future of the youth Gilas program, 16, 17,18 and under-22’s. Gilas head mentor Time Cone is the program director.

While out there, part of the search is to find foreign talents whose willing to enter into the naturalization program and possible imports in the PBA.