Philippine Sports News and Updates

MANILA, Philippines – The coming 31st William Jones Cup will serve as the final test as to who coach Yeng Guiao will be including in his 12-man lineup for the 2009 FIBA-Asia men's championship in Tianjin, China.

The annual tournament held in honor of the former long-time FIBA secretary-general is slated on July 16 to 28 in Taipei. All 14 players including Western Kentucky stalwart Japeth Aguilar are going to see action in the 12-day event.

“We will bring all 14 players plus Japeth (Aguilar) to Taipei and let them show us what they can do," said Guiao. “The Jones Cup will be the basis for whoever shall make it to the final 12."

The Philippines and Indonesia will represent the region to the 25th FIBA-Asia Men’s Championship in Tianjin, China from August 6 to 16. The Top 3 finishers there will then advance to the 16th World Basketball Championship in Istanbul, Turkey next year.

The Nationals blasted host Indonesia, 98-68, in the 8th South East Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) men's championship final in Medan, Indonesia Tuesday night for a four-game sweep of the meet.

They won all their assignments by an average of 38 points, dumping the hosts, 98-68, in the final Tuesday. But the difference in the quality of competition in the SEABA and the Jones Cup is about as huge as the RP team’s winning margin in Medan.

Instead of overmatched teams from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, Powerade-RP will be contending with tall, talented and extremely physical opponents from Iran, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Lebanon, South Africa, and Chinese Taipei.

Iran nipped the Philippines75-69, in the preliminary round of the 24th FIBA Asia Olympic qualifier in Tokushima, Japan two years ago, en route to winning the tournament and earning a berth in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Kazakhstan, on the other hand, blasted practically the same RP team, 107-90, in their battle for second place in the 29th Jones Cup earlier, presenting yet another stumbling block to the Nationals' objective.

“That’s the reason I believe this tournament is the best training ground." Guaio said. “We will be facing big, quick guys and that, I think, is our weakness. We have to incorporate some things in practice to address this problem."

Monday practice resumes for the Nationals on June 15, a day before the scheduled drawing of lots for the FIBA-Asia groupings in Tianjin, and then thrice a week next month as the Jones Cup approaches.

• GMANews.TV
• Philippine Sports Central