Latest news with #JonesCup
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
Strong Group survives Malaysia to remain perfect in Jones Cup
The Strong Group Athletics survived Malaysia, 106-98, to remain perfect in six games in the Jones Cup in Taiwan on Friday. After taking a 87-64 lead by the end of the third, Malaysia made a 20-10 run to cut its deficit with five minutes to play in the fourth period. The Philippine representative, however, held off the Malaysians to claim the victory. 'It was not the best game for us defensively, but we got the job done,' said head coach Charles Tiu. 'We were also able to rest Dre [Roberson] and Tajuan [Agee], which is crucial. Now all focus for us is our game tomorrow against Bahrain — our championship game.' The game against Bahrain will serve as a championship game as it also holds a 6-0 record like Strong Group. The team with the best record by the end of the tournament will be hailed as champions. DJ Fenner led the Strong Group with 20 points, eight boards, and four assists, while Ange Kouame and Geo Chiu registered double-double performances with the former having 11 points and 10 boards, while the latter had 12 points and 10 rebounds, as well. NCAA MVP Allen Liwag, meanwhile, had 16 points and Kiefer Ravena had 17 points. The Strong Group will play Bahrain on Saturday at 3 p.m. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
Daily Tribune
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
Headline: Bahrain Stay Perfect With Win Over UAE
TDT | Manama After dropping 106 points on Australia the day before, Bahrain had to find a different gear against UAE, and they did just that. With the game on the line, Bahrain outlasted their Gulf rivals 77–71 to stay unbeaten in the Jones Cup. Now 5–0, the Kingdom sit firmly atop the standings with three more matches remaining. A Fast Start Bahrain sprinted out of the gates with a 24–9 first quarter, locking down UAE's shooters and owning the glass. Jakarr Sampson and Devon Chism controlled the paint early, while Rashed got loose for a pair of threes. But the second half was anything but smooth. UAE clawed their way back behind Omar Alameri's 16 points and a strong third quarter from Demarco Dickerson. The Emiratis won Q3 25–17 and cut Bahrain's lead to just one. For the first time in this tournament, Bahrain looked vulnerable. Cue the late composure. Cometh the Hour, Cometh the Man With the game tight, Mustafa Rashed stepped up in a big way by scoring 31 points on 11-of-20 shooting, including five triples and a perfect 4-for-4 at the line. He bailed Bahrain out of multiple tough possessions and created breathing room with a timely three in the fourth. Jakarr Sampson didn't have the most efficient night (7-22 FG), but his 18 points and 14 rebounds were crucial. Devon Chism nearly posted a triple-double: 8 points, 18 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 blocks. Bahrain's size wore UAE down over four quarters. They grabbed 24 offensive rebounds and totaled 9 blocks, which is one of their best rim-protecting performances to date. What's Next Bahrain will get a lighter assignment tomorrow against Qatar B, followed by crucial games against Chinese Taipei A and Strong Group Athletics (PHI). With the Kingdom sitting 5–0, the path to a perfect run is real, but there's still business to handle.
GMA Network
10-07-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
Chemistry among considerations in Strong Group's back-to-back title bid in Jones Cup
Minor tweaks were made in Strong Group Athletics' lineup for the Jones Cup but for head coach Charles Tiu, chemistry is among the factors considered as they aim to bring home the title anew. Kiefer Ravena and Rhenz Abando will return for Strong Group's back-to-back bid alongside Jason Brickman, Dave Ildefonso, Ange Kouame, Geo Chiu, and Allen Liwag. DJ Fenner, Tajuan Agee, and Andre Roberson will also join Tiu's squad. Ian Miller and Javi Gomez de Liaño, meanwhile, will be the new ones in the team. "We try to keep the guys intact as much as possible. I think only si Ian Miller's the guy who I just met for the first time, but I think, just getting them reps, getting them in a system in eight practices is not exactly easy that's why we have to keep things as simple as possible para [they] don't get confused. I think that's the key," Tiu said during Strong Group's practice on Wednesday at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde gym. Miller is coming off an impressive campaign in the BCL Asia tournament with Mongolian club Ulaanbaatar Xac Broncos where he was named MVP of the East Asia Division with averages of 17.9 points on 44.1% shooting, alongside 2.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists. Gomez de Liaño, meanwhile, posted 8.4 points and 2.7 rebounds per game in his debut with Anyang JKJ in the KBL. Strong Group's campaign in the Jones Cup will commence on July 13. —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
03-07-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
Animam, De Jesus tow Gilas Women past Thailand for first win in 2025 Jones Cup
Jack Animam and Vanessa De Jesus combined for 46 points to tow Gilas Pilipinas Women past Thailand, 83-66, for their first win in this year's Jones Cup on Thursday. Animam and De Jesus had 23 points apiece, with the former having 14 rebounds as the Philippines bounced back after losing to one of Chinese Taipei's national teams on Wednesday. The Thais held a 37-36 by the end of the first half before the Philippines pulled away in the third period with 26 points and limited Thailand to just 12 points. Gilas then held off the Thais until the final buzzer to return on track in the tournament. Sumayah Sagapong also scored in double digits for the Philippines with 11 points. The Philippines will face South Korea next on Friday. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
Los Angeles Times
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Big Canyon extends Jones Cup lead with 12th victory
Atop an incline behind the ninth green, Robert Pang demonstrated deft touch to chip a ball to the lip of the green, then watched it roll to within six feet of the hole. At times on Thursday afternoon, the hosts from Big Canyon Country Club made it look easy, and it appeared they would win in a laugher. Then Pang missed a short putt, and a couple of green-side spectators gasped. They questioned among themselves whether Big Canyon still had the lead. Under the two-best-balls format, it hadn't mattered. Big Canyon entered the final hole with a three-shot lead over Mesa Verde, and with the rest of the group finished on their scorecards, the hosts clinched a two-stroke victory. In the brilliant light of a setting sun behind the trees, Pang tapped in for a bogey. It had been a laughing matter after all, and a night of celebration was about to begin at the Newport Beach-based club. 'That chip shot, just have to get it on the green,' said Pang, the club's director of golf. 'It was just great. What a fun day. We've been talking [about how] this is the last time we get to play the Jones Cup on this golf course before we redo it in August. It's a really fun day for us.' Robert Muir Graves designed the original golf course at Big Canyon, which opened in 1971. John Harbottle finished the most recent course in 1998.' Big Canyon entered the clubhouse at a combined score of 12 under par. Pang sank five birdies, including four on the first five holes. Senior champion Will Tipton and ladies' champion Olivia Slutzky, longtime veterans of the Jones Cup, each had three birdies. 'That's who we learn from,' said Walter Frome IV, who took much of the drama out of the final hole by making par. 'I've been around since I was little, but those are the people that we look up to. I play golf with Will Tipton every week, and that's how you get better. You play with these people, and you learn about the game. They show you the right way.' The Jones Cup is an annual competition between the country clubs of Big Canyon, Mesa Verde, Newport Beach, Santa Ana and Shady Canyon. Big Canyon has a tournament-best 12 victories, followed by Mesa Verde with eight wins in the event. It's a tournament that each club very much wants to win, although the atmosphere is often more friendly than rivalrous, and members of the respective clubs cheer on their friends on the course. 'You know that they're out there and you're playing against the field, but all you can really control is the shot that you're hitting and then the atmosphere within your group,' Big Canyon club professional Erika Ilagan said. 'I think that was something that we did really well today. Being able to defend [our home course], there's a little bit of pressure, and we were able to kind of keep that at bay and just encourage each other as we were making putts and hitting shots.' Mesa Verde, the runner-up at 10 under par, was led by club professional Mike Fergin, who had five birdies. Men's champion Ryan Knapp added three birdies, and senior champion Don Odom fired in the lone eagle on the round. 'I had about a 210-yard shot in, and I had some good coaching from my teammates,' Odom said of the feat, which came on the second hole. 'I was fortunate. The wind was blowing a little, so I hit a little cut up there. The wind knocked it down, and it helped.' Shady Canyon placed third at six under par, and Newport Beach and Santa Ana tied for fourth at two under par. Ladies' champion Kelly Ly carded four birdies to lead Shady Canyon. The Irvine-based club had some news to share after the competition. 'I played tournament golf 40 years ago, and I ran out of money, ran out of talent,' said Brian Gunson, who is retiring as director of golf at the club. 'This has been my Masters for the last 16 or 17 years. I've loved every second of the Jones Cup. I'm really going to miss it.' Newport Beach's Andrew Alderdice and Santa Ana's Marcus De La Rosa, both club professionals, had four birdies apiece.
