Team Philippines’ Mighty Sports is in anticipation of facing only the strongest in the upcoming Jones Cup happening in Taipei from July 12-21 this year, team manager Jessie Angchonghoo said, also announcing the assembly process of their team in the recent Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum last Tuesday, May 28 at the Amelie Hotel in Manila.
According to Angchonghoo, Coach Charles Tiu will once again lead the country’s representatives after a successful 2019 Dubai tournament stint, also tapping Serbian coach Rajko Toroman to help with coaching duties. The lineup includes former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) imports Renaldo Balkman, Zachary Graham, and Eugene Phelps, while Filipinos Jason Brickman, Jason Gray, Roosevelt Adams, Mikey Williams, Aaron Black, Gab Banal, and Joseph Yeo will complete the team.
In Angchonghoo’s words, “The participating teams right now are all strong, they’re all national teams. So, it’s much more competitive and stronger.
Team owner Alex Wongchungking also previously commented that “Coach Charles will have his hands full this time because some of the best teams in Asia are also taking part to gain more toughness in time for the World Cup,” but Angchonghoo added, “We’re ready. We have all the tools to compete with them.”
Prior to finalizing the final 12 players of their lineup, Tiu revealed that he attempted to request for players Juan Gomez de Liano of the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, Thirdy Ravena of the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles, College of Saint Benilde’s (CSB) Justin Gutang, Gilas Pilipinas’ Andray Blatche, Gilas Youth’s Kai Sotto, Macau Black Bears’ Mikh McKinney and Remy Martin of Arizona State, but all were unavailable due to prior commitments.
The team will begin practicing as a whole starting June 25. Teams in the international competition they’re set to compete against include South Korea, Japan, Iran, and Tunisia.
Team Mighty Sports represented the Philippines last in the 2016 Jones Cup, sweeping their opponents as they were led by Coach Chot Reyes.