RP team leaves for Jones Cup

MANILA, Philippines - The Powerade RP team leaves today for the Williams Jones Cup competition in Taipei, which serves as the final stage of the Nationals’ preparation for the Fiba-Asia championship set Aug. 6-16 in Tianjin, China.

The Nationals take on Jordan at 7 p.m. Saturday to kick off their Jones Cup stint which will also be used by national coach Yeng Guiao and his staff as the final basis for the selection of the 12 players composing the team for the Tianjin Asian qualifier.

The bulk of the RP delegation departs for Taipei this morning with Jayjay Helterbrand, Mick Pennisi and coach Jong Uichico following either Friday or Saturday after the conclusion of the Fiesta Conference finals. Uichico is latest addition to Guiao’s staff.

Ryan Reyes is traveling with the team although it’s doubtful whether he can play due to his hamstring injury. In fact, Burger King ace playmaker Wynne Arboleda has been included in the pool to take his place.

“I wish the Powerade Team Pilipinas a safe and successful trip and engagement,” said PBA commissioner Renauld “Sonny” Barrios.

“Safe, in terms of staying healthy and away from injury. And successful, in terms of fine-tuning preparations while seeing in action and playing against some of the teams competing in Tianjin. I ask our countrymen to pray for our team.”

Aside from Jordan, the other Tianjin participants, which the Nationals will be able to play in the Jones Cup are reigning Asian champion Iran, Lebanon, South Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan and Chinese Taipei.

Guiao is excited to play in the Jones Cup, which he called “the real test before the real thing in Tianjin.”

He’s particularly looking forward to play the South Koreans and the Japanese — two of three teams they’re bracketed with in the first stage of the Tianjin joust.

Guiao is expected to name the final 12 after four games in the Jones Cup since deadline of submission of lineup for the Asian championship is July 22.

The hopefuls, aside from Helterbrand, Reyes and Pennisi, are Asi Taulava, Sonny Thoss, Kerby Raymundo, James Yap, Gabe Norwood, Ranidel de Ocampo, Jared Dillinger, Willie Miller, Arwind Santos, Cyrus Baguio and Japeth Aguilar.

Guiao said Arboleda would be considered for the Asian meet if Helterbrand and Reyes fail to recover from their injuries.

The Nationals need to make the top three in the Tianjin tourney to gain a ticket to the 16th World Championship in Istanbul, Turkey next year.

At the Jones Cup, Guiao hopes the Nationals get to develop team chemistry and camaraderie and be fluid in their plays and patterns.

The Philippines has topped the Jones Cup a number of times, the last in 1998 courtesy of the RP Centennial Team that later bagged the bronze medal in the Bangkok Asian Games.