Mighty opens Jones Cup bid

MANILA, Philippines — Mighty Sports Apparel-Philippines battles Iran today with coach Charles Tiu looking to start their campaign on a high note at the Changhua gym in New Taipei City, Taiwan.

“We still don’t know which team Iran will be fielding, but I’m sure it’s not their elite team,” said Tiu, fresh from serving as one of the deputies of Gilas Pilipinas Youth in the just-concluded FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Greece.

“Still, we have to play to the best that we can since we want to have a winning start,” said Tiu.

Even the godfathers of the team – Alex Wongchuking of Mighty Sports and Willy Ocier of Go For Gold – are both looking for a great start in their bid to regain the title the team won in its initial Jones Cup foray three years ago.

“We are representing our country so I told our players to give their level best each game. That’s one way of entertaining our kababayans out there,” said Wongchuking.

Out to lead Mighty Sports are former San Miguel import Renaldo Balkman, Zach Graham, McKinzie Moore, Eugene Phelps and Fil-Am Jason Brickman.

Also expected to deliver the goods are Jason Gray and Roosevelt Adams, who helped the team to a third-place finish in the recent Dubai Invitationals. Other members of the team are former PBA star Joseph Yeo, MPBL MVP Gab Banal, former Ateneo player Aaron Black and Mikey Williams.