Mighty Sports could be in for a tough competition this time when it represents the country anew in this year’s Jones Cup.
The club team will be facing national teams of different countries in the July 12 to 21 cagefest annually being held in Taipei.
National teams of Iran, Japan, South Korea, Jordan, and Tunisia are confirmed of seeing action in the meet which they are using as part of their preparation for the coming FIBA World Cup in China this August.
Their presence will have Mighty Sports hard-pressed to duplicate the same feat the team had in the 2017 edition of the Jones Cup when it won the championship being an impressive eight-game sweep.
“The participating teams right now are all strong, national teams lahat. So it’s much more competitive and stronger,” said Mighty Sports assistant team manager Jessie Angchonghoo at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Amelie Hotel-Manila on Tuesday. “But we’re ready. We have all the tools to compete with them.”
Charles Tiu will call the shots again for Mighty Sports, which will be reinforced by former PBA imports Renaldo Balkman, Zachary Graham, and Eugene Phelps while the local sides are led by Fil-Ams Jason Brickman, Jason Gray, Roosevelt Adams, Mikey Williams, Aaron Black, Gab Banal, and Joseph Yeo.
For the 35-year-old Yeo, the stint will be the second time he’ll be playing in the Jones Cup after previously suiting up for the national team under then coach Chot Reyes.
“Very excited to be back and represent the country again. At ang daming nanonood lagi (na mga Pilipino), so parang everybody is cheering for you. Masaya, masarap,” said Yeo, who was also at the session presented by San Miguel Beer, Braska Restaurant, Amelie Hotel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.
Mighty Sports is also not taking chances as it tapped former Gilas Pilipinas mentor Rajko Toroman as part of the coaching staff.
It was Tiu who invited the Serbian coach to come over and help him handle the team. Tiu served as one of Toroman’s deputies during his stint with the original Gilas Pilipinas national squad.
“He’s a very experienced coach,” said Angchonghoo of Toroman, who Mighty Sports plans to bring in here around June 25 when the team begins to practice together.