AFTER a five-year wait, Chris McCullough is set to make a return to the Philippines.
The former champion import of the San Miguel Beermen will don the jersey of Strong Group for the 43rd William Jones Cup set from July 13 to 21, 2024, in Taipei.
Strong Group Athletics president Jacob Lao said the McCullough signing was in part the organization's response to a clamor from fans to bring back the popular import.
READ Kiefer Ravena to play for Strong Group in Jones Cup
"Hearing the clamor of fans for Chris McCullough in the Philippines is truly heartening, and it's something we've been keenly aware of for quite some time now," he said.
McCullough, who has long expressed his desire to be naturalized for Gilas Pilipinas, can't wait to be back.
"After so many years, it's truly surreal to be returning to the country. Even though it's just for a short while, the experience of flying back, training, and being in the Philippines again is going to be amazing," said McCullough.
After leading San Miguel to the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship, McCullough embarked on a global basketball journey, showcasing his talent across various leagues in Asia, Europe, and South America.
He went to Korea to play for Anyang, Lithuania to join Rytas Vilnius, Bahrain to suit up for Al-Ahli, and Puerto Rico where he played for Gigantes de Carolina.
Taiwan stint for McCullough
Presently, McCullough plies his trade for the Formosa Dreamers in the P.League+, where he has been instrumental in their success.
Averaging 18.88 points and 12.5 rebounds in the regular season, McCullough has been a driving force for the Dreamers as they navigate through the ongoing semifinals.
Looking ahead to the Jones Cup, McCullough sees an opportunity to not only represent the Philippines but also showcase his skills as he approaches free agency.
"Chris McCullough has been on our radar for a while," said SGA coach Chris Tiu. "Boss Jacob has been urging me to recruit him for some time, and I'm thrilled that he'll finally be playing for us. He's a winner and a force on offense. It was a no-brainer for us to bring him on board."
"I also want to give a shoutout to Chris Ross for assisting in connecting us.”
McCullough joins a formidable roster at Strong Group, which includes standout players such as Kiefer Ravena, Jordan Heading, and Caelan Tiongson.
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