EXPLAINER: Why Strong Group Pilipinas won't advance to Jones Cup semifinals despite strong record

Strong Group Pilipinas capped its group stage campaign in the 2026 Jones Cup with a 117-74 win against Chinese Taipei Blue on Thursday.

With the win, Strong Group finished second in Group A behind Korean team DB Promy.

However, despite its impressive record, the Philippines will not advance to the semifinals and will instead play in the fifth-place game. Lower-ranked Chinese Taipei Blue, meanwhile, will advance to the next round.

In Group B, however, the top two teams will advance to the semifinals.

The new format prompted the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association to issue an apology on Thursday.

“The association apologizes for the controversy caused by the format change and will continue to improve the Jones Cup schedule to meet fan expectations and ensure visiting international teams enjoy the games,” the association said in a statement posted on the Jones Cup website.

The association also explained the reason for the change in format.

“This year, the association decided to change the previous format to reduce the number of consecutive playing days for teams, increase rest days to allow teams to adjust, and avoid increasing the risk of sports injuries from consecutive matches. A new double round-robin group-stage format was designed,” it said.

However, the new format also included a provision guaranteeing Chinese Taipei Blue a spot in the semifinals.

“To enhance the entertainment value, a clause guaranteeing the Chinese Taipei Blue team's advancement to the semifinals was added, ensuring fans can still witness the Chinese Taipei team playing during the semifinals,” the association said.

The association also explained the factors behind the Blue team’s performance in the tournament.

“This year's Chinese Taipei Blue Team was formed from the Asian Games training team. Having just finished the third stage of the World Cup qualifiers in July, many key players needed to rest and recover due to injuries in preparation for the Asian Games in September. Therefore, the Blue Team's Jones Cup roster was strengthened by adding several young and ready-to-play players,” it said.

“Unexpectedly, a wave of injuries began before the Jones Cup, and players were unable to play during the competition, resulting in a sharp reduction in the number of players available. This directly affected the content and results of this year's competition, sparking discussion and controversy.”

The association said it accepted the criticism and would review the competition format and schedule ahead of next year’s tournament.

“Our association humbly accepts guidance from all sectors and will optimize and improve the competition system and schedule, reviewing and improving the arrangements for next year,” it said.

The association also acknowledged that the Philippines was the team most affected by the format change.

“The two-time champion Philippines SGA team, which is in the same group as the Chinese Taipei Blue team, may become the biggest nemesis under this year's new competition system. Despite having a better record, they were unable to advance due to the new system,” it said.

“The association gives the greatest recognition and gratitude to SGA for the superb skills they have shown in this year's competition. In the future, the association will give priority to inviting the teams that participated in this year's competition, so that the long history of the Jones Cup basketball tournament can continue,” it added.

Strong Group will play against Jordan in the fifth-place game on Friday.

—JKC, GMA News