by Jonas Terrado
Game Sunday (Changhua, Taiwan)
3 p.m. –Mighty Sports-PH vs Japan
Mighty Sports-Philippines posted another lopsided victory in the 41st William Jones Cup Saturday after beating Jordan, 90-74, at the Changhua County Gym in Changhua, Taiwan.
Eugene Phelps topscored anew with 20 points, Renaldo Balkman had 17 points and seven rebounds and Fil-American Roosevelt Adams added 11 as Mighty Sports, backed by Go For Gold and Healthcube, cruised to its second win to take the early lead in the nine-day competition.
Fil-Am Mikey Williams hit three triples for nine points, Mackenzie Moore tallied nine points, five rebounds and four assists for the Charles Tiu-mentored Mighty squad seeking a second Jones Cup title after ruling the 2016 edition.
Former PBA import Zach Graham scored all of his nine in the first half where Mighty seized control.
The win came a day after Mighty clobbered Iran, 98-72, in Friday’s opener to assert its status as one of the teams to beat in the annual tournament.
Mighty returns to action on Sunday against Japan, which opened the tourney Friday night with a 77-75 win over Taiwan-A.
Ibrahim Fadi scored 13 points, Hasheem Abas had 12 points and nine rebounds and Yousef Abu Wazaneh added 11 points and eight boards for Jordan, which dropped to 0-2 after Friday’s 69-64 defeat to South Korea.
Mousa Alawadi and veteran Zaid Abbas, who played for the Jordanians during the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, didn’t suit up in the match despite being part of the roster.
Phelps, Graham, Balkman and Adams combined for 33 in the first half as Mighty led 44-29 at the break.
Mighty led by a high of 24 points at the end of the third, 68-44, leaving the Jordanians at bay.
MIGHTY SPORTS 90 – Phelps 20, Balkman 17, Adams 11, Graham 9, Moore 9, Gray 8, Yeo 2, Ndiaye 2, Black 2, Brickman 1, Banal 0.
JORDAN 74 – Fadi 13, Abbas 12, Abuwazaneh 11, Abuhawwas 9, Alhamarsheh 7, Najdawi 7, Dasuqi 5, Alhendi 5, Abu Aboud 3, Obeid 2, Kanaan 0.
Quarters: 21-12; 44-29; 68-44; 90-74.
