Strong Group Athletics (basketball)

This article is about basketball department. For the volleyball department formerly under the same name, see Zus Coffee Thunderbelles.

Strong Group Athletics
Leagues	N/A
Founded	2023
Team manager	Jacob Lao
Head coach	Charles Tiu
Ownership	Strong Group Athletics
Championships	William Jones Cup: 1 (2024)

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 Filipino businessman Frank Lao.[1]

History

The Strong Group maintains its own basketball team which has competed in the Dubai International Basketball Championship in the United Arab Emirates.

They debuted in the 2023 edition, with Mighty Sports and Acto City sponsoring their stint.[2][3] Strong Group, coached by Charles Tiu, finished as quarterfinalists.[4]

They returned in 2024 edition with Tiu reprising his role and backed by Brian Goorjian as team consultant.[5] They reached the final, but lost the title to Lebanese club Al Riyadi.[6]

SGA are set to retun in the 2025 edition of the Dubai tourament.[7][8]

Current team

The following is the roster of the Strong Group for the 2025 Dubai International Basketball Championship.[8][9][10]

Strong Group – 2024 William Jones Cup roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age C 1 Blatche, Andray 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) 38 – (1986-08-22)August 22, 1986 C 34 Kouame, Ange 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 27 – (1997-12-15)December 15, 1997 G 23 Abando, Rhenz 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 26 – (1998-03-11)March 11, 1998 SF 10 Ildefonso, Dave 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 24 – (2000-04-14)April 14, 2000 F 43 Liwag, Allen 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) PG 39 Ynot, Tony 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) PG 11 Lao, Jacob 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) Sanchez, Justine C Cousins, DeMarcus (I) 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 34 – (1990-08-13)August 13, 1990 PG Brickman, Jason 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 33 – (1991-11-19)November 19, 1991 SG Mikey Williams 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 33 – (1991-10-27)October 27, 1991 SG Koon, Chris 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)	Head coach Charles Tiu Legend (C) Team captain (I) Import Nat. – Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events Age – describes age on January 24, 2025

Past rosters

2023 Dubai International Basketball Championship

The following is the roster of the Strong Group for the 2023 Dubai International Basketball Championship.[11][12]

Strong Group – 2023 Dubai International Basketball Championship roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age SG 1 Andrade, BJ 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) SF 32 Balkman, Renaldo (I) 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 40 – (1984-07-14)July 14, 1984 PF 19 Baltazar, Justine 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 27 – (1997-02-19)February 19, 1997 PG 2 Barefield, Sedrick 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 28 – (1996-11-18)November 18, 1996 PG 12 Cagulangan, JD 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) SF 5 Fornillos, Inand 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) F 0 Gozum, Will 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) PG 16 Lastimosa, Jerom 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 26 – (1998-07-01)July 1, 1998 SG 17 Lopez, Francis 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 21 – (2003-05-17)May 17, 2003 SG 15 Muhammad, Shabazz (I) 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 32 – (1992-11-13)November 13, 1992 G 8 Ozcon, Miguel 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) PF 88 Quiambao, Kevin 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 23 – (2001-04-22)April 22, 2001 SG 7 Young, Nick (I) 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 39 – (1985-06-01)June 1, 1985	Head coach Charles Tiu Legend (C) Team captain (I) Import Nat. – Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events Age – describes age on January 27, 2023

2024 Dubai International Basketball Championship

The following is the roster of the Strong Group for the 2024 Dubai International Basketball Championship.[5][13][14]

Strong Group – 2024 Dubai International Basketball Championship roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age C 1 Blatche, Andray 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) 38 – (1986-08-22)August 22, 1986 SG 94 Moore, McKenzie (I) 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 32 – (1992-05-11)May 11, 1992 SG 21 Roberson, André (I) 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 33 – (1991-12-04)December 4, 1991 C 39 Howard, Dwight (I) 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 39 – (1985-12-08)December 8, 1985 PF 17 Quiambao, Kevin 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 23 – (2001-04-22)April 22, 2001 G 18 Escandor, Francis 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) PG 12 Cagulangan, JD 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) F 34 Liwag, Allen 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) PG 13 Ynot, Tony 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) F 20 Sanchez, Justine 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) PF 19 Baltazar, Justine 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 27 – (1997-02-19)February 19, 1997 SG 15 Heading, Jordan 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 28 – (1996-01-30)January 30, 1996	Head coach Charles Tiu Assistant coaches Topex Robinson Team manager Jacob Lao Team consultant Brian Goorjian Legend (C) Team captain (I) Import Nat. – Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events Age – describes age on January 19, 2024

2024 William Jones Cup

The following is the roster of the Strong Group for the 2024 William Jones Cup.[15]

Strong Group – 2024 William Jones Cup roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age PF 5 McCullough, Chris (I) 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 29 – (1995-02-05)February 5, 1995 PF 12 Agee, Tajuan (I) 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 27 – (1997-11-12)November 12, 1997 SG 24 Fenner, DJ 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 31 – (1993-12-07)December 7, 1993 C 34 Kouame, Ange 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 27 – (1997-12-15)December 15, 1997 PG 15 Ravena, Kiefer 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 31 – (1993-10-27)October 27, 1993 G 23 Abando, Rhenz 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 26 – (1998-03-11)March 11, 1998 PG 1 Abarrientos, RJ 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) 25 – (1999-09-14)September 14, 1999 SF 0 Tiongson, Caelan 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) 32 – (1992-05-07)May 7, 1992 SF 10 Ildefonso, Dave 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 24 – (2000-04-14)April 14, 2000 SG 7 Heading, Jordan 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 28 – (1996-01-30)January 30, 1996 C 18 Chiu, Geo 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 23 – (2001-05-18)May 18, 2001 F 43 Liwag, Allen 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) PG 39 Ynot, Tony 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) PG 13 Manalili, Jonathan 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) PG 11 Lao, Jacob 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)	Head coach Charles Tiu Legend (C) Team captain (I) Import Nat. – Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events Age – describes age on July 13, 2024

Honors

• Dubai International Basketball Championship

Runner-up (1): 2024

See also

• Mighty Sports
• Go For Gold
• Benilde Blazers
• Pilipinas Super League

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. Li, Matthew (December 23, 2022). "Mighty Sports gives way as Jacob Lao's Strong Group to rep PH in Dubai meet". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
4. Agcaoili, Lance (February 3, 2023). "Strong Group-PH bows out of contention in Dubai". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
5. Sayson, Homer (January 3, 2024). "Strong Group taps Howard, Blatche, Goorjian for Dubai. Is Brownlee next?". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
6. "Strong Group falters vs. Al Riyadi in wild Dubai finals encounter". GMA News. January 29, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
7. Fuertes, Rommel Jr. (January 11, 2025). "Strong Group brings back key cogs for upcoming Dubai tilt". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
8. Suing, Ivan (January 12, 2025). "SGA ready for redemption". Daily Tribune. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
9. Ulanday, John Bryan (January 12, 2025). "Abando, Ildefonso beef up SGA". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
10. "Chris Koon begins post-Ateneo journey with Strong Group". Tiebreaker Times. January 16, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
11. Li, Matthew (January 24, 2023). "Kevin Quiambao replaces Kouame in Strong Group lineup". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
12. Agcaoili, Lance (January 29, 2023). "Shabazz Muhammad fuels Strong Group-PH to another win in Dubai". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
13. "Strong Group brings in Quiambao, Topex, Escandor, CSB trio for Dubai meet". Tiebreaker Times. January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
14. Ulanday, John Bryan (January 18, 2024). "Strong Group puts loaded lineup to test vs UAE". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
15. "Dave Ildefonso completes Strong Group-Pilipinas roster for Jones Cup". Tiebreaker Times. June 15, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.