logo
Kiefer Ravena returns as Strong Group dominates Australia for 4-0 start

Kiefer Ravena returns as Strong Group dominates Australia for 4-0 start

GMA Network16-07-2025
Kiefer Ravena made an immediate impact in his first game back for Strong Group-Philippines as they dominated Australia, 91-75, to remain immaculate at the 2025 William Jones Cup on Wednesday.
Ravena, who missed the first three games to attend to other commitments, provided the spark in the fourth quarter as the Philippine squad improved to 4-0 in their title defense bid.
Australia dropped to a 2-3 car despite getting huge lift from Filipino-Australian baller James Spencer and Mac Stodart.
Spencer, who played for the University of the Philippines in the UAAP, made crucial baskets in the fourth quarter, including a three-pointer that sliced their deficit to 11, 65-76.
But Ravena spoiled Australia's comeback bid, burying two consecutive triples of his own to make it an 84-67 cushion before Javi Gomez de Liaño sealed the victory with a long bomb from the corner.
Andre Roberson was the usual suspect as he finished with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds together with six assists and a steal while Ian Miller and Tajuan Agee each chipped in 12 markers.
Ravena marked his return with nine points as Dave Ildefonsos chimed in with 10 markers.
Stodart and Spencer paced Australia with the forer collecting 19 points, five rebounds, two assists, three steals, and one block while the latter scattered 11 markers, six boards, and five dimes.
Strong Group will look to bag its fifth win in a row on Thursday, when it slugs it out against home bet Chinese Taipei White at 5 p.m.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'Unexpected' Finals MVP award just a bonus for Jericho Cruz
'Unexpected' Finals MVP award just a bonus for Jericho Cruz

GMA Network

time10 hours ago

  • GMA Network

'Unexpected' Finals MVP award just a bonus for Jericho Cruz

PBA Philippine Cup. July 25, 2025. Jericho Cruz (39) of the San Miguel Beermen against Calvin Oftana of the TNT Tropang 5G. (Photo: PBA Media) San Miguel's Jericho Cruz has been one of the names usually heard over the course of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals series. His name has been involved in a post-game fuss back in Game 3 of the finals where he was allegedly 'showboating' in which he denied. But more than that, Cruz has been one of the consistent players for the Beermen for the finals series as he finished with 13.83 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.33 assists per game to help San Miguel win the All-Filipino crown. With his strong showing in the series, Cruz was named as the Most Valuable Player of the finals which is the first in his career. For him, it was an unexpected one and was just cherry on top of the championship. "Yung championship na 'to, sobrang sarap kasi kakabalik lang ni Coach Leo [Austria]. Nanalo rin ako ng award which is bonus lang naman. 'Di ko maisip, 'di ko maipinta ang words na dapat sabihin ko ngayon," Cruz said in the post-game conference. "'Di ko in-expect pero binigay sa akin kaya maraming salamat," he said in a separate interview. He also clarified that there is no bad blood with him and TNT officials such as manager Jojo Lastimosa. "Shoutout pa rin sa Talk 'N Text kasi hard fought series. Shout out din kay Coach Jolas, alam niya naman na mahal ko 'yan, and Coach Chot [Reyes]... At the end of the day, it's just basketball. Tapos na 'yun, move on na and prepare for the next conference," he said. After a grueling series, Cruz is also expected to join Guam in the FIBA Asia Cup. However, he revealed having some knee issues and will still determine if he will join the tournament. "Pag-isipan ko in the next two days if papahinga ako or tutuloy ako," he said. —JKC, GMA Integrated News

San Miguel reclaims PBA Philippine Cup crown, ends TNT's Grand Slam bid
San Miguel reclaims PBA Philippine Cup crown, ends TNT's Grand Slam bid

GMA Network

time13 hours ago

  • GMA Network

San Miguel reclaims PBA Philippine Cup crown, ends TNT's Grand Slam bid

PBA Philippine Cup. July 25, 2025. June Mar Fajardo of the San Miguel Beermen against the TNT Tropang 5G in Game 6 of the finals. (Photo: PBA Media) The San Miguel Beermen are once again kings of the PBA Philippine Cup. San Miguel reclaimed the All-Filipino crown after dispatching TNT in Game 6 of the finals, 107-96, on Friday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig. The victory also officially ended TNT's bid for a Grand Slam season. The Beermen led 52-47 at the half before eventually pulling away in the second half as they outscored the Tropang 5G, 34-20. In the said quarter alone, June Mar Fajardo scored 10 points, while Jericho Cruz drilled two from beyond the arc to build on his nine points in the said frame. San Miguel then continued to hold off the Tropang 5G en route to the title. The Beermen last won the All-Filipino crown in 2022 as they fell to the Meralco Bolts in the 2024 season. This is also San Miguel's 30th overall title in the PBA. —GMA Integrated News

PMNFT U-23 falls to Vietnam in Mandiri Cup semis
PMNFT U-23 falls to Vietnam in Mandiri Cup semis

GMA Network

time16 hours ago

  • GMA Network

PMNFT U-23 falls to Vietnam in Mandiri Cup semis

The Philippine Men's Under-23 National Football Team came up short in its semifinal campaign after they fell to Vietnam, 2-1, in the ASEAN U-23 Mandiri Cup on Friday at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia. Despite Javier Mariano's goal that put the Filipino booters at an early advantage, the Vietnamese refused to back down and eventually booked the first spot to the championship against the winner of the other semifinal pairing between host nation Indonesia and Thailand. Still, the Filipinos made history with their first-ever semifinal appearance in the regional meet where they will now be relegated to the battle for third match. —JKC, GMA Integrated News

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store