Jones’ Cup or Jokers' Cup?…..

WHO among the basketball community or the sport loving individual would ever thought such a prestigious international tournament like William Jones Cup become a subject of ridicule and widespread criticism from all quarters, whether local and international.

The 45th staging of one Asia’s most prestigious basketball event, which gives an opportunity to professional ball clubs or national teams across globe to strut their wares in a competitive manner, whether they’re looking to fine tune their respective strength and toughness. As part of a team build up in preparation for a bigger tournament to come. Or simply just compete for prestige.

The annual tournament, which was named in honour of Dr.William Jones, whose a proponent of the sports of basketball in Asia, likewise provides highly level international competition among the invited ballclubs or national representatives across five continents. But sadly, the image was tarnished by a sudden change of format right in the middle of the recent tournament in favour of the host, allegedly assuring Chinese Taipei’s Blu or White slot in the final four.

What's really ridiculous about the sudden change of the format, not the changes, nor the new seedlings, But an outright seat for the host in the semi finals no matter what the win-loss record they have after the eliminations. The new format came into play in the just concluded tournament. As the Taiwanese teams got into the semis, hoping one of the team get a shot at the championship.

But karma, has its way of controlling and reminding us of our greediness and selfishness. Both, teams got clobbered in the semi finals with Blue team sent back to reality by a US NCAA selection, 71-95, while White was demolished by South Korea, 81-102, in the other semis’s match. The Chinese Taipei squads, both finished the eliminations with a 2-6 (Blue) and 3-5 (White).

USA and South Korea are locked in a tight battle for the championship as of this writing. The US collegiate and the Koreans wound the elimination with identical 7-1.

Wait? That’s not the worst part yet. The said dubious format told heavily on the Philippines’ Strong Group Athletics (SGA), whose eying for three-peat, instead was relegated to a consultation round for fifth place against Asian Games bound Jordan despite finishing with a 5-1 tally, SGA beat the Jordanian, 96-91. Likewise SGA bented its ire’ as it pulverised Chinese-Taipei’s `117-71 to close out the elimination.

The CTBA (Chinese Taipei Basketball Association) through its chairman Wen Dai Pe, didn’t offer much explanation on the change of format, even claimed that all teams had been informed about the new format, and tagged official within SGA knew the rule about the new format all along, The only thing the CTBA head could offer for his ineptness and stupidity is an apology.

The new format was supported by the Chinese Taipei A idiotic head coach Giancarlo Tucci, saying its an idea and claiming it is also good for the fans, same similar stupid comment from naturalized player Brandon Gilbeck. (They really stand and justify their idiosyncrasy)

Those statement didn’t let it passed by, former PBA commissioner Noli Eala in his podcast said its an absolute insult to William Jones’, one of the founding father of FIBA. Ginebra and Gilas Pilipinas mentor Tim Cone, questions the format as odd and not telling anyone until they land in the country. “Sayang, because that has been the great Asian tournament over the years,” he said.

As for this corner, I’ll leave you just one question, in the coming years, should the organizers remained it as is Jones’ Cup or Jokers’ Cup?…. It’s all up to them.

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