HIGHLIGHTS: Philippines vs Chinese Taipei White – Jones Cup 2019

MANILA, Philippines – It’s mission accomplished for Mighty Sports-Go for Gold in the 41st William Jones Cup as it virtually clinched the title with a huge 97-74 win against Chinese Taipei Blue on Saturday, July 20. 

Bucking a third-quarter ejection to McKenzie Moore and a nose injury to Renaldo Balkman, the Fil-Am squad led by Roosevelt Adams, Jeremiah Gray and Mikey Williams immediately stepped up and towed Mighty to its seventh straight win.

With the win, the Charles Tiu-coached squad can go no lower than 7-1 while South Korea, which Mighty beat last Tuesday, July 16, can only tie them with the same record.

Due to the tiebreaker rule in this win-based tournament, the Jones Cup is now safely with the Philippines for the first time since 2016, the year Mighty went 8-0 for the title. 

The club just needs to clear one last hurdle, Chinese Taipei White, on Sunday, July 21, 5 pm, to repeat its own feat 3 years prior. 

Assuming Balkman does not suit up due to his new injury, Mighty is still more than equipped to manhandle the Team B of the Chinese Taipei delegation.

Eugene Phelps, along with the rest of the imports, is still fully healthy and ready to give a dominant encore. Mighty’s Filipino core including Aaron Black, Gab Banal and Joseph Yeo is also likely salivating at the idea of ending the tournament on a high note. 

Tripping up and losing at the very last game to the tourney’s sixth-ranked team, however, will be an embarrassment the Philippine bets likely can’t live down. Tiu, Rajko Toroman and the rest of the coaching staff obviously won’t let that happen under their watch. 

Will Mighty Sports complete an emphatic sweep to add to its new title or is Chinese Taipei White gearing up for a buzzkill upset? 

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Philippines vs Taipei B – Curated tweets by RapplerSports

– Rappler.com