TAIPEI, Taiwan — Strong Group Athletics-Pilipinas owner Frank Lao refused to get drawn into the controversy surrounding the team’s shocking elimination from the 2026 William Jones Cup semifinals despite finishing the group stage with a 5-1 record.
SGA-Pilipinas wrapped up its preliminary-round campaign in emphatic fashion Thursday, crushing Chinese Taipei Blue, 117-74, but the victory was not enough to secure a semifinal berth under the tournament’s much-debated format.
South Korea’s Wonju DB Promy booked the lone legitimate semifinal slot from Group A after beating Japan, 75-64. The result gave Wonju DB Promy the tiebreaker advantage over SGA-Pilipinas, leaving the defending champions out of the championship race.
Chinese Taipei Blue was also guaranteed a semifinal appearance regardless of its final position because of its status as the host team.
The situation left SGA-Pilipinas with five wins in six games but without a place in the semifinals, ending its hopes of winning the Jones Cup for a third consecutive time.
Lao, however, chose not to openly criticize the organizers or challenge the tournament rules.
“Wala akong masasabi dyan,” Lao said when asked about the format.
Instead, he recalled a piece of advice from his mother.
“Ang sa akin lang, susundin ko ang payo ng nanay ko, ‘wag mong kunin ang bagay na hindi talaga para sa ’yo!’” he added.
SGA-Pilipinas responded to the disappointment on the court, putting together one of its most dominant performances of the tournament.
The Filipinos led by as many as 49 points against Chinese Taipei Blue, finishing their campaign with a commanding victory despite already knowing that their semifinal hopes had disappeared.
