MANILA, Philippines – Chris McCullough took over down the stretch as Strong Group-Pilipinas stayed unbeaten in the William Jones Cup in Taiwan after a come-from-behind 82-74 win over Ukraine on Monday, July 15.

The former San Miguel import scattered 8 of his 28 points in the final two minutes to help the Philippines’ representative improve to 3-0 after dominant wins over the United Arab Emirates and Australian team BSBL Guardians.

Ukraine led 72-67 before Strong Group went on an 11-0 tear highlighted by McCullough completing a three-point play, sinking a triple, and making a pair of free throws in succession to seize the upper hand at 78-72.

Free throws by Jordan Heading and Kiefer Ravena then sealed the win for Strong Group.

Heading backstopped McCullough with 24 points after an 18-point eruption in the opening quarter, while Ravena added 10 points and 4 assists.

Fourth quarter

• FINAL: Strong Group completes an 82-74 come-from-behind win over Ukraine to remain undefeated in three games
• PHILIPPINES 82-74: Jordan Heading sinks another freebie
• PHILIPPINES 81-74: Kiefer Ravena adds two more from the line with 36 seconds left
• PHILIPPINES 79-74: Jordan Heading knocks down a bonus free throw off an unsportsmanlike foul
• PHILIPPINES 78-74: Volodymyr Konlev with a quick basket for Ukraine
• PHILIPPINES 78-72: 8 straight points by Chris McCullough as he drills two free throws
• PHILIPPINES 76-72: Chris McCullough with another huge basket, this time from beyond the arc
• PHILIPPINES 73-72: Chris McCullough gives Strong Group the lead with a three-point play
• UKRAINE 72-70: Kiefer Ravena pulls up from downtown to make it a two-point game
• UKRAINE 72-67: Oleksandr Kobzystyl swishes the mid-range jumper
• UKRAINE 70-67: Caelan Tiongson goes 1/2 from the line
• UKRAINE 70-66: Anatolly Shundel slices the defense and scores off a layup
• UKRAINE 68-66: Chris McCullough makes it a one-possession game after scoring two free throws
• UKRAINE 68-64: Kiefer Ravena steals and scores
• UKRAINE 68-62: Anatolly Shundel fires from deep
• UKRAINE 65-62: Rostyslav Novitskyl and Chris McCullough trade twos
• UKRAINE 63-60: Ukraine connects from long distance
• 60-60: Kiefer Ravena sets up Ange Kouame for the easy two
• UKRAINE 60-58: Rostyslav Novitskyl hits two charities
• 58-58: Kiefer Ravena ties the game with a booming triple
• UKRAINE 58-55: Chris McCullough hits his first free throw, but misses the second one

Third quarter

• END OF 3Q: Ukraine overtakes Strong Group with a 58-54 advantage
• UKRAINE 58-54 Volodymyr Konlev’s long two is good
• UKRAINE 56-54: Ange Kouame completes an and-one play
• UKRAINE 56-51: Tajuan Agee counters with a layup, plus the foul. He misses the bonus
• UKRAINE 56-49: Oleksandr Antypov fires and hits from deep
• UKRAIN 53-49: A free throw makes it a four-point lead for Ukraine
• UKRAINE 52-49: Jordan Heading with a tough finish in transition
• UKRAINE 52-47: Chris McCullough goes 2/2 from the line to cut the lead to 5
• UKRAINE 52-45: Chris McCullough finally stops Strong Group’s drought with a layup
• UKRAINE 52-43: 11-0 run by Ukraine to begin the second half after back-to-back hits by Oleksandr Kobzystyl and Pavlo Krutous
• UKRAINE 48-43: Anatolly Shundel scores off a goaltending
• UKRAINE 46-43: Pavlo Krutous adds three more from long distance
• 43-43: Rostyslav Novitskyl starts the second half with a layup

Second quarter

• HALFTIME: Strong Group maintains a slight edge against Ukraine, 43-41
• PHILIPPINES 43-41: Oleksandr Antypov sinks the corner trey
• PHILIPPINES 43-38: Chris McCullough splits his free throws
• PHILIPPINES 42-38: Back-to-back baskets by Strong Group as Chris McCullough scores in transition
• PHILIPPINES 40-38: DJ Fenner pulls up from mid-range
• 38-38: Pavlo Krutous for three
• PHILIPPINES 38-35: Chris McCullough scores two more from the free throw line
• PHILIPPINES 36-35: Chris McCullough drills two foul shots
• UKRAINE 35-34: 5-0 run by the Ukrainians to steal the lead from Strong Group
• PHILIPPINES 34-30: RJ Abarrientos hits a bonus free throw off a technical foul
• PHILIPPINES 33-30: Tajuan Agee forces his way inside for a deuce
• PHILIPPINES 31-30: Anatolly Shundel completes a three-point play for Ukraine
• PHILIPPINES 31-27: Jordan Heading now with 20 points after swishing two freebies
• PHILIPPINES 29-27: Oleksandr Kobzystyl sinks a technical free throw, Oleksandr Antypov adds two more from mid-range
• PHILIPPINES 29-24: Ange Kouame cleans up RJ Abarrientos’ miss
• PHILIPPINES 27-24: Volodymyr Konlev starts the second quarter with a three

First quarter

• END OF 1Q: Jordan Heading catches fire in the opening period as Strong Group takes a 27-21 lead
• PHILIPPINES 27-21: Jordan Heading fires another trey
• PHILIPPINES 24-21: Oleksandr Kobzystyl goes 1/2 from the line
• PHILIPPINES 24-20: Jordan Heading still on fire as he hits another three-pointer
• PHILIPPINES 21-20: Vadym Kozak and Jordan Heading trade threes
• PHILIPPINES 18-17: Ange Kouame nails two charities
• UKRAINE 17-16: Ihor Serhelev gives Ukraine back the lead with a long bomb
• PHILIPPINES 16-14: Chris McCullough goes perfect from the line
• 14-14: Oleksandr Kobzystyl knocks down two free throws, Jordan Heading responds with a three
• UKRAINE 12-11: Jordan Heading converts on a tough layup
• UKRAINE 12-9: Anatolly Shundel banks in a trey
• 9-9: Jordan Heading with an easy finish
• UKRAINE 9-7: Oleksandr Antypov swishes a floater
• 7-7: Jordan Heading takes it strong inside for a layup
• UKRAINE 7-5: Rostyslav Novitskyl scores down low
• 5-5: Tajuan Agee also goes 1/2 from the stripe
• UKRAINE 5-4: Oleksandr Antypov splits from the line
• 4-4: Chris McCullough lays it in transition
• UKRAINE 4-2: Pavlo Krutous drills two free throws
• 2-2: Tajuan Agee gets Strong Group on the board with an undergoal stab
• UKRAINE 2-0: Rostyslav Novitskyl opens the scoring with a deuce

Starters

• PHILIPPINES – Kiefer Ravena, Jordan Heading, DJ Fenner, Chris McCullough, Tajuan Agee
• UKRAINE – Volodymyr Konlev, Anatolly Shundel, Pavlo Krutous, Rostyslav Novitskyl, Oleksandr Antypov

Preview

Fresh from another 20-plus point beating of its opponents, Strong Group-Pilipinas tries to keep its hot start in the 43rd William Jones Cup going when it clashes with Ukraine on Monday, July 15. 

Just like their opening-day blowout of United Arab Emirates, the Filipinos dominated Australia’s BSBL Guardians from start to finish on Sunday, July 14, en route to a convincing 91-69 finish.

As expected, Chris McCullough once again spearheaded Strong Group’s onslaught as he produced a game-high 23 points in just 22 minutes. 

Aside from McCullough, big men Ange Kouame and Tajuan Agee both flexed their muscles inside the paint to finish with 16 and 14 points, respectively. 

Don’t expect McCullough and the rest of Strong Group to slow down versus Ukraine as they gun for their third straight win in as many days for an unblemished 3-0 card in the single round-robin tournament. 

The Ukrainians were no match for Chinese Taipei-Blue on Sunday as they dropped their opening assignment, 83-58.

Only one Ukrainian player reached double-digit scoring in their 25-point loss, with Rostyslav Novitskyi scoring 11.   

Game time is 5 pm. – Rappler.com