jones cup analysis

Iran: Tall…heavy…mismatches in every position. Seven-foot-three Hamed Ehadadi indefensible inside. Score vs. RP: 85-60. Conclusion: Unbeatable.

Jordan: Big…fast…Portuguese coach Mario Palma as acid-tongued as he is good. Point guard Rasheim Wright in a class of his own. Score vs. RP: 90-59. Conclusion: Too tough to beat.

South Korea: Deadly snipers lurk everywhere…dazzling ball movement…might be vulnerable inside and against aggressive perimeter defense. Score vs. RP: 83-80. Conclusion: Beatable.

Japan: Good outside shooters…Takehiko Orimo, who Dennis Espino took out in the 2002 Busan Asian Games, still the main man…big guy in the middle joining the team in Tianjin…Asi Taulava, Japeth Aguilar and Sonny Thoss need to work overtime to contain new center. Trailed by 19 points early in the first half but showed remarkable comeback power. Score vs. RP: 87-85. Conclusion: Beatable depending on their hidden ace.

Taiwan: High percentage distance shooting…quick ball movement honed by South Korean coach…volume scoring from the onset…relatively weak inside. Score vs. RP: 86-77. Conclusion: Going down against the Nationals next time around.

Lebanon: Superstar Fadi El-Khatib slowed down a bit by age but scored 32 and 33 points in their first two games…backup guys – Brian Feghali and Jackson Vroman – too good to defend against…add to the potent mix a smaller version of Dirk Nowitzki named Matt Freije who debuted with 39 points and 11 rebounds in a 97-79 annihilation of South Korea. Score vs. RP: 95-83. Conclusion: Huge problem.

The eight-day, nine-team tournament, held in honor of the founding secretary-general of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and eventually ruled by Iran – dethroning back-to-back champion Jordan – stripped bare the RP team’s inadequacies: lack of foreign exposure, unfamiliarity with international rules, contrasting style of play.

Jordan finished with a tournament-best 7-1 record to Iran and Lebanon’s 6-2. But the Jordanians decision to walk out of their game with the Iranians over officiating proved costly.

Before the team left, national coach Yeng Guiao preached the need for speed, defense and accurate shooting to counter the opposition’s size advantage.

Faced, however, with opponents who are as fast, if not faster, massive, deadlier from the outside, and infinitely more experienced in the FIBA brand of basketball, the Nationals faltered, bogged down by sloppy ball handling and horrendous outside shooting.

Injuries also ravaged the squad at its most sensitive position – the point guard spot, with Jayjay Helterbrand playing hurt and Ryan Reyes not playing at all.

The imbalance forced the sacrifice of Willie Miller, who was brought in from the less burdensome position of shooting guard to help quarterback the RP team while delivering the points when needed, which was often.

There were a few bright spots, especially the emergence of 6-foot-10 Japeth Aguilar, who, despite being lanky, young and raw, demonstrated his awesome potentials – defensively and as an offensive threat above the rim.

There was also Sonny Thoss holding his own against Middle Eastern tanks, and Cyrus Baguio scorching the tracks and pushing up the pace in transition.

In the next six days before they fly for the "real thing" – the 25th FIBA Asia Men’s Basketball Championship – where three berths are at stake for the 16th FIBA World Championship in Istanbul next year, the Nationals have their "work cut out for them," as PBA commissioner Renauld ‘Sonny’ Barrios reminded the team Saturday after a healing mass offered for ailing former President Corazon C. Aquino.

"We shall sink or swim with this team, but you have to work real hard to get in shape," Barrios told the players. "Only an optimum performance from you, guys, can spell success in Tianjin."

The Philippines is bracketed with South Korea, Japan and Sri Lanka in the FIBA Asia.

Unless the Sri Lankans, a cricket-loving nation, have learned to shoot hoops as well as they play their national pastime, then the three perennial Asian rivals are guaranteed to make it to the next phase of the elimination – against the top three teams from Group B, made up of Iran, Kuwait, Uzbekistan, and Taiwan.

With the tournament format calling for win-loss records to be carried over to the Group A vs. Group B round, it makes it imperative for the RP team to get there with a 3-0 or 2-1 card in anticipation for return engagements with Iran and Taiwan, not to mention the games with the Uzbeks and Kuwaitis, both un-scouted opponents.

Having lost to all four teams – Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Iran – in the Jones Cup tournament, the Nationals will be working from a position of disadvantage, mentally and physically, unless they make the transition from being individual talents to becoming a solid team with patience, good ball movement, judiciously-taken outside shots, and hellish defense for 40 minutes.

And that’s just to reach the quarterfinal round.

In the semis, defending champion China, Lebanon and Jordan and probably Qatar await which four from the other bracket will go up against them.

These coming days will determine if the country’s dream of a World Championship appearance after more than three decades is capable of reaching that far.

source: tempo.com