Strong Group Athletics’ pursuit of a historic William Jones Cup three-peat just got a whole lot bigger.
Former NBA giant Boban Marjanović has officially arrived in the Philippines, bringing his towering 7-foot-4 frame to a Strong Group squad aiming to accomplish something no team has achieved in more than a decade.
The Serbian veteran will headline Strong Group’s campaign in the 45th William Jones Cup, scheduled from August 8 to 23 at the New Taipei City Xinzhuang Gymnasium in Taiwan, where the Philippine club is chasing a third consecutive championship.
If successful, Strong Group would become the first team since Iran (2009-2011) to win three straight Jones Cup titles.
Marjanović’s arrival also continues the recent trend of towering international stars bringing their talents to Philippine basketball. Earlier this year, 7-foot-3 center Bol Bol suited up for TNT in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, while Boban now takes his talents to the international stage with Strong Group.
The veteran center was personally welcomed by head coach Charles Tiu, who spearheaded the effort to bring the former NBA big man to the tournament.
According to veteran Filipino-based player agent Roger Jimenez, the recruitment process began when Tiu reached out in search of a marquee reinforcement capable of anchoring the team’s title defense.
Jimenez then connected with Marjanović’s representative in Serbia—the same agency that also handles three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić—and negotiations quickly progressed before the Serbian agreed to join Strong Group.
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Jimenez has built a reputation for bringing high-profile imports to Philippine basketball, having previously helped secure the services of current NLEX import DeQuan Jones, former San Miguel champion Chris McCullough, and former Meralco reinforcement Tony Bishop.
For Filipino basketball fans, Marjanović is hardly an unfamiliar face.
The veteran center twice stood in the way of Gilas Pilipinas while representing Serbia in international competition.
He was part of the Serbian squad that defeated the Philippines during the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China before once again helping eliminate Gilas in the 2021 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade.
This time, however, Marjanović will be wearing Philippine colors as he helps Strong Group continue its dominance in one of Asia’s most prestigious invitational tournaments.
The Serbian will join a loaded roster featuring former Gilas standouts Matthew Wright and William Navarro, Fil-Am guard Remy Martin, Puerto Rico national team veteran Isaiah Piñeiro, brothers Dave and Shaun Ildefonso, naturalized Filipino Malick Diouf, DJ Fenner, Allen Liwag, Titing Manalili, and Tajuan Agee.
Strong Group opens the tournament in a challenging preliminary group alongside Chinese Taipei Blue, South Korea, and Japan, with its sights firmly set on adding another championship to its growing legacy.
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