William Jones Cup - Men's Basketball

[ate_sha]

Last July 14, 2010, the 32nd R. William Jones Cup formally opened. It will close today, July 20, 1010.

The R. William Jones Cup (also known as the Jones Cup) is an international basketball tournament held annually in Taipei, Taiwan. It was named after basketball promoter and one of the founders of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), Renato William Jones.

The tournament started in 1977, and ever since the Jones Cup tournament was held annually. There are two version of William Jones Cup, the tournament for men's basketball and for women's basketball both dominated by American teams since 1977.

In 2003, due to the SARS epidemic crisis in Asia, the tournament was cancelled but resumed the competition in 2004.

The tournament invited teams, clubs, collegiate and national teams, from around the world but mainly from the Asian and the North American regions. -- Wikipedia

Since its inception the Philippines as been regularly joining this annual tournament, and has in fact won it three times, first in 1981 as Northern Cement, then in 1985 as San Miguel Beer and in 1998 as the Philippine Centennial Team. In all such instances our representative teams actually consisted of the core of our national team, with a couple of imports thrown in.  For additional info as to the first two teams mentioned, this Wikipedia article might help:

Code: [Select]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Cement_basketball_team
For more info on the Philippine Centennial Team, this other Wikipedia article is quite imformative:

Code: [Select]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Centennial_Team
Perhaps few of us are aware that in this ongoing tournament the Philippines is again represented by our national team, plus black import Marcus Douthit for added strength at center, under the name of Smart Gilas. We do have a 7-footer in the person of Greg Slaughter, who has Pinoy ancestry. As a matter of fact current reinforcement Marcus Douthit may be under consideration for naturalization to give us that much-needed depth in the middle because Slaughter is too slow.

The Smart Gilas players are:

Chris Tiu, Japeth Aguilar, JV Casio, Andy Barroca, Chris Lutz, Greg Slaughter, Dylan Ababou, Mac Baracael, RJ Jazul, Jazon Ballesteros and the top scorer, Marcus Douthit. For more info on the Smart Gilas Team, you may go to this Wikipedia article:

Code: [Select]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_Gilas
As an invitational tournament, the Jones Cup allows teams to field imports. It is also one of the few tournaments in the world that still adheres to the straight round-robin system; i.e., each team gets to play all the other teams, and the champion is the team with the best record.

Although games still have to be played today (games will be broadcast live over Star Sports this afternoon, Manila Time) the champion was already determined yesterday after Iran beat the Taiwan University All-Stars, Iran being the only unbeaten team.

For a current update of the Philippine-Smart Gilas Team's progress, this asia-basket.com article is herein reproduced in full purely for purposes of information and nothing else:

William Jones Cup - Men Basketball

July 19 Results:

Jul. 19:    Lebanon     81-52     Australia
Jul. 19:    Philippines     74-84     Japan
Jul. 19:    Taiwan B     65-97     Iran

   
Next Day Schedule:

Day 7 (Regular Season)
Lebanon     Jul. 20     Philippines
Taiwan B     Jul. 20     Japan
Iran     Jul. 20     Taiwan


2010 Jones Cup Day 6: Japan beat weary Philippines
Jul 19, 2010 (by Chris Wang)

Resting less than 15 hours after the overtime win over Taiwan Sunday night, the Philippines fell in the hands of Japan, 84-74, Monday in the 2010 William Jones Cup basketball tournament.

The result could be crucial to the final ranking for both teams, which are now tied at 3-2. Japan is scheduled to meet Taiwan University All-Stars Tuesday in a game that heavily favors the Japanese while the Philippines will take on Lebanon, which is now 4-1, in a tough battle.

If Lebanon wins, it will lock up the No. 2 with a 5-1 record and the Philippines finished 3-3. If the Philippines pulls out a win, Philippines, Lebanon and Japan could be in a three-way tie at 4-2.

Back to the game, Japan enjoy an advantage of having a 'bye' day on Sunday over the tired Philippine team. A 7-0 run early in the 4th quarter increased Japan's lead to double-digit before the Philippines managed to pull within four, but that's the best they could do.

Marcus Douthit once again led the Philippines with 20 points to go with 21 rebounds. Marnel Baracael had 24 points. Japeth Aguilar and Japan's Takuya Kawamura both sat out the game.

'There's no enough time for us to rest and be in game condition after the game wnet into overtime last night, ' said Philippines head coach Rajko Toroman. japans head coach Thomas Wisman also admitted that his team was able to pull it off in the final period because of better stamina.

In other games, Iran defeated Taiwan University All-Stars, 97-65, with no problem. Lebanon routed Crocs 81-52 with Jackson Vroman sitting out the game.

Standings:
Iran 5-0
Lebanon 4-1
Philippines 3-2
Japan 3-2
Taiwan 2-3
Taiwan University All-Stars 1-4
Crocs 0-6   

[malditogOten]

kakapanood ko lang kanikanina ng live tinalo ng lebanon ang philippines

[ate_sha]

Sayang ano? At least they'll come away from this knowing where they have to focus more to improve. From what I've observed, our national team needs a crash course in basic ball handling skills. And daming errors ng mga ball carriers natin. At saka each player needs to practice at least 1000 long shots everyday. Our floor shooting average is very poor.

[Red_I]

This team wouldn't go far if they don't get any help from pba. The starting back-court is so small and the big men are too soft. If i were to choose  i would only retain the following players from gilas.
Casio - good shooter
Lassiter  - good defender/shooter
Baracael  -  good defender/shooter plus he has that swagger
Slaughter - for his size and can still improve
Douthit - for now because its hard to find a good character import

The rest should be replaced. In the pba i want this following players..
Washington - good size and has shooting from the outside and can play the 3 and 4.
Williams - well hes already included
Cabagnot / Mercado - good size for a point-guard and are aggressive players
James Yap - the guy can shoot the lights out.
Junmar Fajardo - hes not from the pba and hes playing in cebu. if his contract expires they should get  him quick. oh and the guy is 6'10 with basketball skills..

I just hope they can find an agreement with the pba to lend this aforementioned players to help our country back in the basketball map.

[nijazared]

Sana nga there will be a time that we can bring back the glory to Philippine Basketball- the closest we ever got was with the team of Coach Uichico, the time when Danny Seigle was at his prime and got injured during a exhibition match with Iraq. I can't exactly remember the year but we had a really strong team that was capable of beating China. But anyways, hope all the hardwork and dedication of the Smart Gilas players would pay off.

[masterbenq]

This team will fail trumendously if no support from the PBA. Its obvious that they are not strong and will need PBA veteran players to support, teach and play againts them. Im a big Chris Tiu fan but he's just not fit to play international ball. He's a one dimentional no defense guy.

I would retain the ff:
Lassiter- Athletic, good defender and has range.
Aguilar- Athletic, with size, explosive but needs to improve shooting
Baracael, Slaughter, Barroca, Rabeh- Train these guys for the future competitions. (Still not ready. Especially Slaughter just look at his body.)

The rest and if we want to win now will come from the PBA. 
Helterbarand- The best PG we have with size, range and explosive to the basket.
Cyrus Baguio- One of the few player that excess in the last PBA player national squad
Williams- Kelly should be included in any international competition if we want to have a chance. With size, athleticism, decent range and explosive to the basket. But should only play if 100% healthy.
Gabe Norwood- With size, explosive and with PG skills but needs to improve shooting.
Kerby Raymundo- With size, decent shooting for a forward and has leadership.
Arwind Santos- With size, decent shooting and a work horse.
Dondon- who could shoot the lights out.
(This should be James Yap but the last competition he played in was extremely bad.)
Tubid- decent shooter, die hard and "yabang factor"
Rico Maierhoffer- Athletic, decent shooter but needs to bulk up.

This is just my personal opinion. I just hope and wish we will be competitive in National Competitions. We have talents, but not a system for the long term. PBA players are ready but we still need to train for the future.

[rholandho]

Personally, I believe that if we perform well sa Jones Cup, we have a decent chance of competing in the summer Olympics. Sang-ayon ako na kailangan ang tulong ng PBA to make this happen much like in the US kung saan kumukuha sila ng pool of players mula sa NBA and nag-iinvite din sila ng mga collegiate prospects para i-train tapos saka sila bubuo ng line-up. Sa tingin ko committed naman ang Smart-Gilas pero sadly "hilaw pa" ang mga players natin. We need a long term developmental plan kung gusto uli nating makabalik sa international level of play.