Mighty Sports eyes Jones Cup title repeat

MANILA, Philippines—Bannered by five battle-tested imports, Mighty Sports Philippines is primed to regain the Jones Cup title it won three years ago.

Reinforcing the squad are Renaldo Balkman, Zach Graham,  Eugene Phelps, Hamady Ndiaye and McKenzie Moore.

“The team has almost everything and we’re working very hard to find the right chemistry,” said Rajko Toroman, the former Gilas coach who is serving as Mighty Sports’ consultant.

READ: Gilas Pilipinas, Mighty Sports battle to a draw in tuneup 

Toroman handled the team’s preparations in the absence of head coach Charles Tiu,  who arrived just last Monday after being with Gilas Pilipinas Youth in Fiba Under-19 World Cup in Greece as one of the team’s assistant coaches.

“I was not here in the early part of the team’s training but I’m confident the team will do the best it can to regain the Jones Cup crown,” said Tiu during Tuesday’s team dinner at the City of Dreams Manila.

Mighty Sports, which leaves for Taiwan Thursday, braces for tough challenges from Asian rivals Korea, Japan, Iran and Jordan.

READ: Mighty takes Gilas PH spot in Taipei

Beefing up the team are Fil-Americans Jason Brickman, Roosevelt Adams, Jason Gray and Mikey Williams.

Former PBA veteran Joseph Yeo, MPBL MVP Gab Banal, former Ateneo player Aaron Black are also in the fold.