2012 34th William R. Jones Cup [Taipei, Taiwan, Aug 18-26]

[daniab]

Hope to see Lebanon & Africa All-Star, este Qatar NT also in the Jones Cup!

Lebanon will participate. We will be without some of our best players such as Fadi El Khatib, Ghaleb Reda and Charles Tabet. But other than those three players, we are complete with the addition of starlet Ahmad Ibrahim.

[Khalid80]

USA Men's Select Team Announced by Taiwan (34th William Jones Cup live on ESPN) - Jul 30, 2012

With the NBA Legends in town, Taiwan has become a hot bed for USA talent and stars. The NBA Legends will play versus a Taiwan Select team just 3 weeks before the 34thAnnual Williams Jones Cup. But for the first time since 2004 Team USA will participate in the Jones Cup. Featuring 11 players owning Asia Professional Basketball experience, including the 2010AsiaBasket.com All-Arab Club Championships Best Import Player Marcus Melvin and the 2011 Asia-Basket.com All-Japanese BJ League Guard of the Year Wayne Arnold.

UPG CEO Jerone Dodd Jr expressed that "This is a great opportunity for all of the players, coaches, our company, the Taiwanese and International basketball communities. It aligns with our goals for the development within the international basketball market and has the potential to forge new opportunities for the future.

CTBA and UPG today announced 13 players for the 2012 USA Men's Select Team that will participate in the 34th William Jones Cup tournament which will be held in TPEC Gym in Tienmu, Taipei from Aug 18-26, 2012 (Live on ESPN). The USA Basketball Men's Select Team will compete against the following national teams (Japan, Philippines, Qatar, Lebanon, S. Korea, Iran, UAE, and Taiwan).


Mychal Kearse (6'5''-G-83) of Akita Northern Happinets
Jermaine Barnes (6'5''-G/F-82) of Universal Phoenix Group LLC
Curtis Marshall (6'6''-G/F-83) of Lille Metropole Basket Clubs
Marcus Melvin (6'8''-F-82) of La Union Formosa
Scott VanderMeer (7'0''-C-86) of Marinos de Anzoategui
Josh Powell (6'9''-F-83) of Brujos de Guayama
Wayne Arnold (6'4''-G-84) of Gwinnett Majic
Jordan Collins (6'10''-PF-82) of Mitteldeutscher BC Weissenfels
Jermaine Dearman (6'8''-F/C-80) of Fukuoka Rizing
Gerard Anderson (6'6''-F-87) of Los Angeles D-Fenders
Desmond Blue (6'11''-C-88) of Universal Phoenix Group LLC
Brad Reese (6'6''-F-88) of SLUNETA Usti nad Labem
James Justice (5'10''-G-89) of GIE Morrow Disciples

Coaches: David Benoit , Travis McAvene, Michael Davis , Ying-Chou Chou , Kevin Franklin

USA Basketball also announced that serving as co-head coaches of the USA Select Team are former NBA player and coach David Benoit and Usbasket.com All-United States Coach of the Year Travis McAvene. Benoit served for three seasons as head coach in the Japan BJ League. McAvene, who was the former assistant coach at Coppin State University, left the NCAA and began coach US leagues for the last 5 seasons. McAvene has become the best in the business winning the respect of the world after receiving USA Coach of the Year voted by Usbasket.com.

'The USA National Team selection process was based on American players with great international experience including Asia. We wanted to focus on these types of players because of the Asian style of basketball,' said Ying-Chou Chou of UPG.

Members of the USA Select Team will assemble in Atlanta, GA and conduct a training session August 5, 2012. All practices will take place at Morris Brown University.

http://www.asia-basket.com/William-J...?NewsID=281353

Very good team... Marcus Melvin was an excellent player in the Lebanese League.
Josh Powell also played for 5 seasons in the NBA until 2011.

[weward]

I dont know the current strength of team Pilipinas because there is a new coach,system and pool of players.
But i do feel we will not win the championship or is even capable of winning the championship. I doubt our team will be competitive enough this early(add t that some players may miss this tournament due to injuries and rest time).
I believe experience is the supreme target of our team. And placing high in the standings or even winning the championship, if ever, would just be a bonus.
But for sure..... we will give a fight in every game.

[interxavierxxx]

Philippines hopefully and optimistically will win the Jones Cup this year. As you all know it's been 14 long yrs devoid of of winning the Gold Medal.

Given the preparations we had over the past weeks, I doubt we're even capable of making third place. I don't want to sound negative but our chances are truncated due to (once again) ill-preparedness.

[Khalid80]

Lebanon's most probable roster for Jones Cup:

Rodrigue Akl (188-PG-88)
Mohamad Ibrahim (195-G-83)
Miguel Martinez (189-PG-88)
Carl Sarkis (185-G-86)
Ahmad Ibrahim (201-G/F-92)
Jean Abdel Nour (198-G/F-83)
Hussein El Khatib (186-PG-86)
Nadim Souaid (192-G/F-86)
Elie Estephane (194-G-86)
Ali Kanaan (205-C/F-85)
C.J. Chester Giles (211-C-85)

and one of the following 2 players:

Rabih Iskandar (208-C-91)
Paul Iskandar (205-F/C-93)

[interxavierxxx]

Lebanon's most probable roster for Jones Cup:

Rodrigue Akl (188-PG-88)
Mohamad Ibrahim (195-G-83)
Miguel Martinez (189-PG-88)
Carl Sarkis (185-G-86)
Ahmad Ibrahim (201-G/F-92)
Jean Abdel Nour (198-G/F-83)
Hussein El Khatib (186-PG-86)
Nadim Souaid (192-G/F-86)
Elie Estephane (194-G-86)
Ali Kanaan (205-C/F-85)
C.J. Chester Giles (211-C-85)

and one of the following 2 players:

Rabih Iskandar (208-C-91)
Paul Iskandar (205-F/C-93)

Are Ali Mahmoud and Rony Fahed still playing for the NT or have they retired from NT duties?

[Khalid80]

Are Ali Mahmoud and Rony Fahed still playing for the NT or have they retired from NT duties?

Ali Mahmoud is injured and will rest to recover over the summer.

Rony Fahed retired from the NT as of last year because he wasn't called up to the squad by coach Sarkis and felt he was unappreciated. I don't know if he would come out of retirement if Lebanon had another coach for the NT as he's 31 and can still play at a high level.

[Cammomile]

Lebanon's most probable roster for Jones Cup:

Rodrigue Akl (188-PG-88)
Mohamad Ibrahim (195-G-83)
Miguel Martinez (189-PG-88)
Carl Sarkis (185-G-86)
Ahmad Ibrahim (201-G/F-92)
Jean Abdel Nour (198-G/F-83)
Hussein El Khatib (186-PG-86)
Nadim Souaid (192-G/F-86)
Elie Estephane (194-G-86)
Ali Kanaan (205-C/F-85)
C.J. Chester Giles (211-C-85)

and one of the following 2 players:

Rabih Iskandar (208-C-91)
Paul Iskandar (205-F/C-93)

You have a very young and fast line up sir!! im looking at ur team as a contender but wont win the championship for now..maybe 2-3 yrs from now when chemistry and familarity not to mention maturity
gradually takes in then better watch ur back china.


c.j giles is a gifted player no doubt.minus his drama outside the court.i hope he finally matured..

goodluck to your team..

[jonescupfan]

It's nice to have Team USA back, raises the level and quality of competition. This is what Jones Cup should be.

[jonescupfan]

You sure about Japeth? Reed thin and no outside touch?

[Khalid80]

You have a very young and fast line up sir!! im looking at ur team as a contender but wont win the championship for now..maybe 2-3 yrs from now when chemistry and familarity not to mention maturity
gradually takes in then better watch ur back china.


c.j giles is a gifted player no doubt.minus his drama outside the court.i hope he finally matured..

goodluck to your team..

Thanks bro! Yeah this isn't our best team that we can assemble but I think it's really good that coach Sarkis is giving the chance for our youngsters to represent Lebanon at international competitions because at the end of the day we need to start pumping young players into our rotation so there won't be a huge gap between our previous teams and current and future ones. What I am happy about is that Lebanon will hopefully remain one of the top nations in Asia when it comes to basketball and I am excited to see how much we can improve and move forward because we do have a great league in Lebanon and this is positively affecting our NT. What I wish we really could have though is the best financial support and professionalism to be present....

CJ has promised that he is a changed player for the better... Let's hope so cuz you're right the guy is talented but unfortunately immature with all the problems he gets into whether its' substance abuse of the court or not being to be in control of himself and his actions on the court.

[carlosanchez111]

who will win?

[carlosanchez111]

Smart Gilas 2

Jayson Castro (Talk N Text) 5'11"
Ranidel De Ocampo (Talk N Text) 6’5’’
Larry Fonacier (Talk N Text) 6’2’’
Sonny Thoss (Alaska) 6’7’’
LA Tenorio (Alaska) 5’8’’
Mac Baracael (Alaska) 6’4’’
Jeff Chan (Rain or Shine) 6’3’’
Gabe Norwood (Rain or Shine) 6’5’’
Enrico Villanueva (Ginebra) 6’5’’
Gary David (Powerade) 6’2’’
Sol Mercado (Meralco) 6’1’’
From amateur
Garvo Lanete (San Beda) 6’1’’
Naturalized Player
Marcus Douthit 6’11’’

[jonescupfan]

who will win?

I'm betting on team USA. A third place finish by smart gilas will be considered an overachievement, I don't see them posing any threat to the middle east teams with their lineup. Don't be surprise if they finish fifth or sixth. This is sad, I'm also a fan of Philippine bball.

[toikins]

Smart Gilas 2

Jayson Castro (Talk N Text) 5'11"
Ranidel De Ocampo (Talk N Text) 6’5’’
Larry Fonacier (Talk N Text) 6’2’’
Sonny Thoss (Alaska) 6’7’’
LA Tenorio (Alaska) 5’8’’
Mac Baracael (Alaska) 6’4’’
Jeff Chan (Rain or Shine) 6’3’’
Gabe Norwood (Rain or Shine) 6’5’’
Enrico Villanueva (Ginebra) 6’5’’
Gary David (Powerade) 6’2’’
Sol Mercado (Meralco) 6’1’’
From amateur
Garvo Lanete (San Beda) 6’1’’
Naturalized Player
Marcus Douthit 6’11’’

Castro is injured. Replaced by softie Jay-r Reyes.
And another amateur in our line-up is IBN Philippines' discovery Matt Rosser.

[tmlouk]

I'm betting on team USA. A third place finish by smart gilas will be considered an overachievement, I don't see them posing any threat to the middle east teams with their lineup. Don't be surprise if they finish fifth or sixth. This is sad, I'm also a fan of Philippine bball.

i don´T understand ur concern..as long as Douhit is in the roster, nothing is lost. the others are replaceable

[jonescupfan]

i don´T understand ur concern..as long as Douhit is in the roster, nothing is lost. the others are replaceable

Douthit ain't no superman and he is 32 yrs old. Remember,Jones cup games are played everyday, those legs are gonna give. Besides, bball is a team game not a ONE MAN game.

[reamily]

thanks sir we would get our best shot withnor without douthit the more we lighten up the load on him the better

[jonescupfan]

thanks sir we would get our best shot withnor without douthit the more we lighten up the load on him the better

Last year was the best example, smart gilas beat Iran on the opening day but got thump on the final four. Douthit was visibly tired and ineffective against Haddadi.

[mangangalakal]

Last year was the best example, smart gilas beat Iran on the opening day but got thump on the final four. Douthit was visibly tired and ineffective against Haddadi.

This is a legitimate gripe. Haddadi has the edge in age and maybe in stamina, considering that Douthit has not played in competitive games since the PBA Commissioner's ended early this year. But this only highlights the lack of big men in the Jones Cup team - after Douthit, who do you have?? E-Vill, Thoss, and Ranidel. Remember we're going up against BIG teams.