“THE math ain’t mathing!”
This was the reaction of former NBA All-Star and ex-Strong Group Athletics reinforcement DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins after seeing SGA-Pilipinas finish the 2026 William Jones Cup with a 6-1 record yet end up in fifth place.
Cousins dropped the comment on Strong Group’s Instagram post, echoing the confusion surrounding the Philippine side’s surprising finish in the tournament.
SGA-Pilipinas closed its campaign with a 96-91 victory over Jordan, extending its winning streak to six games and finishing with an impressive 6-1 overall record.
However, the team had already been knocked out of semifinal contention after losing a tiebreaker to Wonju DB Promy on point differential despite finishing second in Group A with a 5-1 mark.
The situation became even more controversial after tournament organizers guaranteed host Chinese Taipei Blue a place in the semifinals regardless of its group-stage standing.
Chinese Taipei Blue advanced despite carrying a 1-5 record, while the 5-1 Strong Group side was relegated to the classification round.
After winning the William Jones Cup in both 2024 and 2025, SGA-Pilipinas ultimately settled for its lowest finish in three appearances.
So when Cousins saw six wins and just one loss translate to fifth place, he summed up the situation perfectly: the math ain’t mathing! (Jesus Nathaniel Valdez)
