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No Jones Cup for Gilas due to Philippines-Taiwan tensions
By Carlo Pamintuan
(Updated 11:40 am) Due to the tension between Taiwan and the Philippines arising from the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman three weeks ago, defending champions Gilas-Pilipinas has been removed from the list of teams that will compete in the Jones Cup basketball tournament, head coach Chot Reyes said Monday.
Taiwanese authorities reportedly could not guarantee the team's safety, despite reports that hostility towards Filipinos has begun to ebb.
Using his Twitter account, Reyes announced that Gilas has been "un-invited" to the event, which is held annually in Taiwan.
Taiwanese authorities reportedly could not guarantee the team's safety, despite reports that hostility towards Filipinos has begun to ebb.
Using his Twitter account, Reyes announced that Gilas has been "un-invited" to the event, which is held annually in Taiwan.
Just got word from d organizers that we have been un-invited to d Jones Cup. Di matapos-tapos ang problema ng Gilas ha.
— Chot Reyes (@coachot) May 27, 2013
As a result, Gilas will not be able to defend the title they won last year.
After Iran dominated the competitions from 2009 to 2011, the Philippines finally got another Jones Cup title with LA Tenorio carrying the team to a 76-75 win over the team representing the United States. Tenorio was also named as the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
Reyes said "the on-going RP-Taiwan tension stemming from the fisherman slay" was the reason for the exclusion of the Philippine basketball team.
Gilas will be heading to Lithuania to prepare for the FIBA Asia Championship, but being part of the Jones Cup has been very important because it gives Gilas the chance to size up the opposition. Now the team will need to find other competitions, according to Reyes.
Reyes said "the on-going RP-Taiwan tension stemming from the fisherman slay" was the reason for the exclusion of the Philippine basketball team.
Gilas will be heading to Lithuania to prepare for the FIBA Asia Championship, but being part of the Jones Cup has been very important because it gives Gilas the chance to size up the opposition. Now the team will need to find other competitions, according to Reyes.
We now have to find a replacement tournament as d Jones Cup is such an integral part of our preparation.
— Chot Reyes (@coachot) May 27, 2013
Before 2012, the Philippines last won the Jones Cup back in 1998 with the Philippine Centennial team led by legends such as Alvin Patrimonio, Johnny Abarrientos, Kenneth Duremdes, and Jolas Lastimosa.
The Philippines has won the Jones Cup four times since the tournament started in 1977. It ranks second in the all-time list, next only to the United States, which has won the Jones Cup title 14 times.
"Unfortunate as it is, we need to move forward. We need to stay strong. We need to stay focused. Nothing has changed - we control our destiny," said PBA Commissioner Chito Salud in reaction to the news. "We will not be deterred in our quest to perform well in the coming FIBA-Asia championship which our country will host."
This is not the first time that the Philippine basketball team has been disallowed from joining international competitions. Back in 2006, FIBA banned the Philippines from joining any FIBA-sanctioned tournaments as a result of the power struggle between the Basketball Association of the Philippines and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas. The ban was lifted on February of 2007. - YA/HS, GMA News
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