POWERADE TEAM PILIPINAS GOES TO WAR

Let’s take a break from the wheeling and dealing world of the NBA off-season and momentarily shift our attention to the Philippine National squad which is taking part in the 31st William Jones Cup Basketball Championship in Taipei starting on Saturday, July 18.

This is the final test for Powerade Team Pilipinas before embarking on their main mission which is to finish in the top three spots of the FIBA Asian Basketball Championship in Tianjin, China on August 6-16. The top three finishers on the Asian joust will qualify for the World cage finals in Turkey next year.

Nine teams will see action in this year’s edition of the Jones Cup including eight National squads. Only South Africa will not be represented by its National team. Taiwan as host will be represented by two National selections (A and B). A notable absentee this year is the Athletes in Action team from the United States. The US-AIA squad had been a regular fixture in the tourney in recent years. Powerade Team Pilipinas will see action in nine straight grueling days without any rest. They will start their campaign against powerhouse Jordan on Saturday.

All games will be shown live on ESPN Philippines from July 18-26. Herewith is the complete schedule of the 31st William Jones Cup Basketball Championship:

July 18

1100 Iran-Kazakhstan

1300 Taiwan B-South Africa

1500 Jordan-Philippines

1700 Korea-Lebanon

1900 Opening Ceremony

1930 Taiwan-Japan

July 19

1100 South Africa-Jordan

1300 Japan-Iran

1500 Kazakhstan-Korea

1700 Lebanon-Taiwan B

1900 Philippines-Taiwan

July 20

1100 South Africa-Japan

1300 Iran-Jordan

1500 Philippines-Lebanon

1700 Taiwan B-Korea

1900 Taiwan-Kazakhstan

July 21

1100 Korea-South Africa

1300 Kazakhstan-Taiwan B

1500 Japan-Philippines

1700 Lebanon-Iran

1900 Jordan-Taiwan

July 22

1100 Lebanon-Japan

1300 South Africa-Kazakhstan

1500 Taiwan B-Jordan

1700 Philippines-Korea

1900 Taiwan-Iran

July 23

1100 Kazakhstan-Lebanon

1300 Iran-Philippines

1500 Korea-Jordan

1700 Japan-Taiwan B

1900 South Africa-Taiwan

July 24

1100 Taiwan B-Iran

1300 Philippines-South Africa

1500 Jordan-Kazakhstan

1700 Korea-Japan

1900 Taiwan-Lebanon

July 25

1100 Japan-Jordan

1300 Lebanon-South Africa

1500 Kazakhstan-Philippines

1700 Iran-Korea

1900 Taiwan B-Taiwan

July 26

1100 Kazakhstan-Japan

1300 Jordan-Lebanon

1500 Taiwan-Korea

1700 Philippines-Taiwan B

1900 South Africa-Iran

2130 Closing Ceremony

Competition format: Single round-robin

Venue: Sinjhuang Stadium, Taipei County