Rain or Shine’s Beau Belga during a PBA preseason game against Magnolia. PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines-Rain or Shine accepted an invitation to take part in next month’s William Jones Cup in Taiwan, the team announced Tuesday.
The Elasto Painters also bared in their announcement that former Ateneo standout Ange Kouame will reinforce the squad for the August 12 to 20 competition which marks the return of the annual international cagefest after a four-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It will be the first time that a PBA team will be sent to Taiwan for the Jones Cup, a competition participated by national teams or pro clubs from different countries after the PBA board gave the nod in a recent meeting.
“We are honored not just to represent the PBA, but also the country in the Jones Cup. The high level competition will also help us to better prepare for the upcoming PBA season,” Rain or Shine governor Mamerto Mondragon said. “We will give it our best shot and hope to bring honor to the country.”
Coach Yeng Guiao and his team will be in an interesting position as Rain or Shine hopes to follow the feat produced by Mighty Sports Philippines in 2019 when it captured the tournament’s last edition with a lineup reinforced by multiple American players.
The Philippines has won in five other occasions, namely the national team-flavored Northern Consolidated in 1981 and 1986, PBA Centennial Team in 1998 and Gilas Pilipinas in 2012 while Mighty Sports was also victorious in 2016.
Ateneo Blue Eagles center Ange Kouame. –UAAP PHOTO
Kouame is no stranger to the Jones Cup, with the naturalized player being part of the Ateneo team that put up a respectable fourth-place finish in the 2018 edition.
The tournament will be part of Rain or Shine’s preparation for the PBA season which opens in October with the import-flavored Commissioner’s Cup.
Rain or Shine currently has a 6-2 record in the ongoing PBA On Tour, with Anton Asistio and Gian Mamuyac among the team’s top performers.
Asistio and Mamuyac also played for the Blue Eagles in the 2018 Jones Cup.