IS there more to the ‘CMac turns Baked Mac’ issue than meets the eye in the last Jones Cup?

Enraged fans didn’t hold their punches against Chris McCullough after the import’s controversial performance in Strong Group Athletics-Philippines’ final Jones Cup game against home team Chinese Taipei Team A on Sunday night.

McCullough was the star of Strong Group’s first seven games in the tournament, where he emerged as the MVP, only to earn the ire of Filipino fans after an untimely off-night in the Philippine representative’s most important game.

He scored just 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting, fired blanks from rainbow territory and missed half of his 8 free throws including two crucial charities in the final 1:28 when Philippines was struggling to come back from a 64-69 deficit.

After scoring five points in the first half, McCullough was limited to just 4 in the third quarter and only managed a point in the payoff period before scoring a lone basket in overtime before fouling out of the game.

Fans also took notice of McCullough’s depressed look when he received the tournament MVP award shortly after the game.

But for Strong Group coach Charles Tiu, it is just normal for players to have an offnight and sadly, McCullough’s happened during the all-important final match.

“I do feel that everybody’s entitled to their opinion. I think he did have his best game (in the tournament) and he struggled in that game and I know they (Chinese Taipei) really prepared well for him,” said Tiu.

PHOTO BY: SGA

“He was our best player throughout the tournament and one of the X factors why we were in that position. I guess, he was due for a bad game. [Chinese Taipei] prepared well,” added the soft-spoken coach.

Tiu, however, was heartened to see his local players step up in the face of McCullough’s bad game, helping Strong Group pull off a gutsy 83-79 overtime win to capture the country’s seventh championship in the Jones Cup – and Tiu’s second after leading Mighty Sports to the 2019 title.

“Buti na lang na all his teammates really stepped up and carried the load without him performing at an A level,” said Tiu.

Game-fixing allegations

Amid the flurry of game-fixing accusations against a player being targeted by Chinese-Taipei for naturalization, Tiu had this to say.

“Ako, I really try not to think about these things. I just hope not (the claims are not true). I believe in him. He knows I trust him,” he added. “Basta ako I am relieved that we were able to get away with the win. Pero hindi naman siguro.

“I know hes a big competitor and he probably was just frustrated in himself more than anything that he didnt have the best game. But I know he was supportive of his teammates and happy that we won.”

The concurrent College of St. Benilde Blazers coach said perhaps McCullough wanted so badly to win against the team that is considering him for naturalization, that he may forced shots and eventually lost his focus.

“There were times na I am sure gigil siya to score because he averaged over 20 points tapos medyo hindi pa siya nakaka-score, grabe din yung defense naka-focus sa kanya. I think na-frustrate din siya kasi hinahawakan siya ng Taipei players, very physical the way they played him. He couldn’t get his rhythm,” he said.

PHOTO BY: SGA

“Ako kasi I think, he couldn’t hit the normal shots he’d make. Hindi ko alam kung pagod na rin siya kasi he played the most minutes throughout the tournament and I didn’t rest him. Pero give credit to the Taipei team, they really prepared for him,” added Tiu.

Asked if it was part of his game plan to let McCullough to play from the outside and bring down the ball in some possessions, Tiu shook his head.

“Actually we had the game plan and some adjustments na baligtad nga, we wanted him (McCullough) to be inside because we felt that (Tajuan) Agee will be guarded by the import and siya by a local player, kaya gusto sana namin i-take advantage yun,” said Tiu.

Benefit of the doubt

“For some reason, hindi rin nangyari yung gusto naming gawin. Actually nawala nga kami sa flow, in the first half lamang kami ng 7 (up to 11 points), the ball was moving, everybody was playing together, nung second half medyo nagkanya-kanya eh. Dun kami nahirapan, thankfully, we made the crucial stops.”

But Tiu is careful not to pass judgement on his import.

“Siguro part of it was just he really wanting to win the championship. Some guys really wanted to take matters into their own hands. It happens, siguro nanggigil siguro lahat. It just didn’t work out well pero we were able to win, so thankful ako na ganun,” said Tiu.