STRONG Group Athletics (SGA) avenged its lone loss in emphatic fashion on Wednesday, dismantling South Korean powerhouse Wonju DB Promy, 113-87, at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium.
Yet the vengeful 26-point blowout wasn't enough to give the Philippine representative an inside track on the Group A top seed and a place in the Final Four, leaving its quest for a title hat-trick in great peril.
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SGA entered the contest gunning for a 31-point margin to overturn the quotient deficit from its 110-79 opening-day loss to the South Koreans.
The Philippine representatives nearly pulled off the feat behind an incredible shooting display, hitting 78 percent (38-of-50) from the field and 69 percent (18-of-26) from downtown.
SGA built a lead as large as 28 points before frontcourt anchors Isaiah Piñeiro and Tajuan Agee fouled out in the fourth quarter.
A frantic late shootout saw Matthew Wright erupt for 21 points on seven treys, but Ethan Alvano answered with timely buckets for the Korean side to keep the final margin at 26 points.
Because SGA fell five points shy of the 31-point target, head-to-head quotient rules give DB Promy the inside track on the lone semifinal spot on offer if the two teams (both at 4-1) remain tied at the end of the group stage.
Under tournament regulations, Chinese Taipei-A (Taiwan Blue) automatically advances to the Final Four from Group A, leaving only one remaining berth up for grabs among SGA, South Korea, and Japan.
Chinese-Taipei Blue is currently at 1-3.
To claim the lone qualifying spot out of Group A, the Philippines must take care of business against Chinese Taipei-A at 7 p.m. on Thursday and pray that Japan pulls off an upset over South Korea at 3 p.m..
An upset by Japan would hand South Korea a second loss, allowing SGA to advance outright with a superior win-loss record.
The bizarre qualification rule, which SGA said it only learned upon arrival in Taipei, drew sharp criticism from SGA head coach Charles Tiu.
“This one really hurts. It’s rare for you to win and feel disappointed. We were so close,” said Tiu. “We prepared well and really gave ourselves a chance to win, but the 32-point margin [target] was just too much for us."
Tough predicament for SGA
Still, Tiu expressed immense pride in his squad’s fight.
“Don’t have enough praises to sing for our team and the way we fought in this game. Some good basketball. Even the Korean coach was complaining at how bad the format of the tournament is,” said Tiu.
“If only we knew from the start that this was the format, then for sure things would have been different,” he said.
Despite being in a tough predicament, Tiu remains adamant about his team’s standing in the tournament.
“We’ve lost one game in three years, and deep down we know we are the best team in the tournament,” he said.
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