Jones Cup serves tough test for Gilas

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Gilas coach Chot Reyes has seen the list of teams they’re facing in the coming Jones Cup, and he liked what he saw.

“Good tournament roster with tough teams. This will be a real good test for us,” said Reyes, seeing Iran, Jordan, Lebanon and Japan entered in the Taipei annual invitational set Aug. 18-26.

“We play two games, take a rest and then play six straight games. It’s really a good test for our team,” Reyes told The STAR.

The first tournament to be played by Smart Gilas II, the Jones Cup will also feature the Chinese Taipei national team, Chinese Taipei team B, a US squad and the Anyang KGC squad from Korea. 

The Nationals open their Jones Cup campaign on Aug. 18 versus Jordan, the very team denying Smart Gilas I of a crack at the championship in the last FIBA Asia Championship in Wuhan, China.

The next day, the Nationals play the Chinese Taipei team B then take a rest, bracing for six straight games versus Korea, Japan, Lebanon, Iran, Taipei-A, then USA.

“We really wanted a strong cast. The stronger the better, so we can see how our guys can fare,” said Reyes.

The Nationals started their training Saturday and have never stopped their daily sessions despite the heavy rains in the last few days.

“It’s understandable that there were absents because of the floods. But we go on despite the bad weather,” said Reyes.

This gave Reyes the chance to take a close look at his new Fil-Am recruit Matt Rosser.

“The initial impression is favorable. He’s athletic, coachable, understands the game and can easily pick up what we’re doing,” said Reyes of Rosser.

“It looks that we can use him. His first test is the Jones Cup,” Reyes also said.

Rosser is a 6-foot-5 legitimate point guard fresh from his stint with the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos that he helped rule the US NCAA Division II championship in 2010.

Born in the country and holding a Philippine passport, Rosser is back in the country having finished his playing years and business management studies at Cal Poly.

He started at point guard spot for the Broncos from his sophomore year in 2009-10. He averaged 24 minutes, 4.0 points and 3.5 rebounds in their NCAA title run.