Dave Ildefonso and DJ Fenner are set to reinforce Strong Group anew as the Philippine club shoots for its third straight William Jones Cup basketball crown this August at the the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City.
The annual basketball tournament is scheduled from Aug. 8 to 23.
Ildefonso and Fenner, who played together for the defending champion Abra Weavers in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, were part of the Frank Lao-owned basketball squad’s Jones Cup conquest last season.
Dave, son of PBA legend and current Converge assistant Danny Ildefonso, averaged 8.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.0 steals per game in last year's edition, while Fenner contributed 10.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per outing for the team.
Philippines naturalized player Ange Kouame will add size to Strong Group, along with import Tajuan Agee, and college standouts Allen Liwag of College of St. Benilde and Letran guard Titing Manalili.
"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, who concurrently serves as Phoenix head coach.
“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 6-foot-9 Agee will also be back for a third stint with Strong Group, having averaged 15.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.2 steals per game during the club team’s second straight Jones Cup crown.
The Strong Group also tapped former NBA big man Boban Marjanovic to solidify its chances of winning three straight in Taipei.
Strong Group is bunched in the same group as Chinese Taipei Blue, Korea, and Japan.
