By REY C. LACHICA
In all likelihood, Mighty Sports will not be able to defend its Jones Cup title in Taiwan this August as professional and club ball teams in the country are not yet allowed to hold practice until the quarantine is lifted entirely.
Like combat sports practitioners, basketball players are barred from practicing, reason why the sports apparel club can’t form a team this time for the annual tournament.
“Most likely, we can’t send a team this time because we can’t practice due to travel restrictions and health protocols,” said a team official.
The event was initially scheduled early July but was pushed back due to coronavirus pandemic.
With a surprising very low COVID-19 cases, sport events in Taiwan are taking baby steps in the nation’s valiant effort to get back into normalcy – thanks to its government’s early action against the deadly disease.
After completing a local basketball tournament late last month, Taiwan launched its own baseball tournament early this month but fans were allowed entry only two weeks after.
Taiwan has been successful at preventing the spread of coronavirus that it has now lifted or relaxed some stringent measures it implemented as early as January upon the virus outbreak.
In the absence of Mighty Sports, organizers will only have eight teams with Japan, Qatar and Kazakhstan expected to send their best clubs.
Reinforced by Renaldo Balkman, McKenzie Moore and Eugene Phelps, Mighty Sports, backed by Go for Gold, completed an eight-game sweep of the prestigious club tournament last year.
It was the club’s second sweep of the tournament having lorded over the 2016 edition.
Mighty Sports was looking to complete a first international double after ruling the Dubai International Basketball Championship last February.
The team, also bannered by Balkman, former Gilas player Andray Blatche and ex Ateneo standout Thirdy Ravena, dethroned many-time-champion Al Riyadi of Lebanon to become the first non-Middle Eastern club to win the annual event.
