Kouame, Ildefonso, Manalili headline Strong Group holdovers for Jones Cup three-peat bid

Strong Group Athletics will once again lean on a couple of tried-and-tested players as it begins its bid for a historic third straight title next month in the 2026 William Jones Cup.

SGA will bring back the likes of NCAA standouts Titing Manalili and Allen Liwag as well as Ange Kouame, Dave Ildefonso, DJ Fenner, and Tajuan Agee, all of whom played key roles in their back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025.

"Just excited to have some of our core guys still there to help us go for our three-peat," said Strong Group coach Charles Tiu.

"It really helps having that familiarity, especially with a lot of new guys coming in and such a short preparation time. I love coaching this group of guys."

The six holdovers will be joined by Serbian giant Boban Marjanović as Strong Group aims to complete a historic Jones Cup three-peat, a feat no Philippine team has ever accomplished in the tournament.

READ MORE | Boban Marjanovic joins Strong Group Athletics for William Jones Cup three-peat bid

Strong Group is coming off a pair of title sweeps as the Philippine club did not drop any single game in both the 2024 and 2025 editions on the way to capture the crown.

This year, Strong Group is drawn in a group alongside Chinese Taipei Blue, Korea, and Japan in the tournament that will run from August 8 to 23 at the New Taipei City Xinzhuang Gymnasium.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News