Jones Cup Bye Controversy Reignites: Philippines' SGA Posts Two Versions of Schedule to Refute CTBA's Claims
The controversy over Chinese Taipei Blue's qualification for the semifinals continues to escalate, as a fan page linked to the Philippines' SGA has publicly posted screenshots of two different schedules, claiming the new rule was only received after their opening loss to South Korea. The CTBA has yet to respond.
Two schedule screenshots have become the new evidence in this he-said-she-said saga. One shows the original version from before the tournament began; the other has a few extra lines added, concerning the clause about Chinese Taipei Blue advancing to the semifinals. A Philippine basketball fan page posted the two images side by side on Threads, with a caption that pulled no punches: "The new rule was only announced after we lost to South Korea."
The controversy surrounding the 2026 William Jones Cup rule that "guarantees" Chinese Taipei Blue a spot in the semifinals had, until now, remained a matter of conflicting accounts. SGA head coach Charles Tiu had previously stated that his team only learned of Chinese Taipei Blue's guaranteed advancement after arriving in Taiwan. CTBA deputy secretary-general Wen Ta-pei then responded, insisting that all teams had been notified of the rule well in advance. With no common ground between the two sides, the situation remained at a standstill—until the fan page posted screenshots with a more specific timeline.
According to the fan page, the difference between the two schedules lies in the added clause about Chinese Taipei Blue's advancement, which was reportedly only received after SGA's opening-day loss to South Korea. The post read: "It's disappointing to see these changes happen so abruptly." Responding to Wen Ta-pei's earlier remarks questioning the Philippine side's account, the fan page fired back: "Accusing a member of the Philippine team of lying also undermines the sincerity shown by the recent apology."
It should be noted that these two schedule screenshots remain, for now, evidence provided solely by the Philippine fan page. The CTBA has yet to respond regarding the actual notification timeline or the full content of the competition rules. The real timeline is still missing its official piece of the puzzle.
Beyond the result on the court, SGA also took to Instagram to thank fans: "The three-peat was 'denied,' but the support we received was three times as strong." The post specifically mentioned the Taiwanese fans they got to know during the tournament, saying they "made every game feel like a home game," and expressed pride in the team's performance, fighting until the very last moment.
