43rd William Jones Cup MVP Chris McCullough of Strong Group Athletics-Philippines. Photo from Facebook/SGA. 

MANILA — Chris McCullough was one of Strong Group Athletic's main weapons in their 43rd William Jones Cup championship run.

Following their title-clinching win against Chinese Taipei-B, the former San Miguel Beermen reinforcement was named the Jones Cup MVP after steering the Charles Tiu-coached squad to a sweep of the tourney with averages of 21.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks.

READ: SGA spoils Taipei-A's party to rule 43rd Jones Cup

However, McCullough, who is reportedly set to be naturalized by Chinese Taipei, received flak online for his performance against Taipei-A.

Previously averaging 22.4 points and 8.6 rebounds in their first seven games, he only scattered 12 markers on 4-of-16 shooting from the field, together with five boards, three dimes, and two rejections before fouling out.

The 6-foot-9, former Washington Wizard went online to touch on the comments that he got after the game which accused him of game-fixing, and responded by saying that it was just an off night for him.

"[I'm gonna] respond to the slander one time and one time only. First of all congrats to us on the championship of the Jones Cup!" McCullough wrote on his X account.

"I always rep the flag wherever I played so for some of you fans who're saying all of this nonsense is ridiculous. Because I didn't have the best game in a championship game, now I fix games? Come on now. It happens and it is what it is. It's always the next man up," he continued, while hailing his teammate Tajuan Agee who had 21 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals, a block, and a perfect nine-of-nine from the 15-foot line.

"T stepped up big tonight! That's 'next man up mentality.' He picked up my slack and got the job done!"

Aside from his MVP plum, McCullough was also hailed among the Jones Cup Mythical Five together with Taipei-A's Brandon Gilbeck and Ying-Chun Chen, Mouhamed Mbaye of Chinese Taipei-B, and Malaysia and former Ateneo Blue Eagle Joe Obasa.