The last time the TPE national team met Gilas at the Jones Cup, they were bamboozled by the moves of Terrence Romeo way back in 2015. Gilas will not have the benefit of having Romeo around this time, but they should still give the Taiwanese Team A a pretty good challenge. Sure, the PHI dropped their initial assignment against a long and athletic 3D Canada squad, but the Pinoys had some flashes of brilliance and showed great potential. If they can minimize their TOs and play better defense all around, they have a shot at upsetting the heavily favored home team.
TPE has a score to settle with Gilas, since Gilas handed them a memorable defeat in 2015. TPE are coming in as heavy favorites, though, owing much to their being recently crowned the kings of East Asian basketball at the EABA Championship in Nagano, Japan. TPE is also fresh from beating Japan on day 1, 86-65. This team no longer has many of the familiar faces and names Filipino hoop nuts are used to, but that doesn't mean they got weaker. On the contrary, this roster is full of the current superstars in Taiwan's local league as well as a sprinkling of players who ply their trade in China's CBA. TPE have more experience at this level, too, so they should remain favorites to beat Gilas.
GILAS PILIPINAS roster & stats from Day 1
Ray Parks, Jr. - 6'4 - 11pts, 5rebs, 3stls
Kobe Paras - 6'6 - 4pts, 2blks
Mac Belo - 6'3 - 3pts
Fonzo Gotladera - 6'5 - DNP
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Von Pessumal - 6'2 - DNP
Almond Vosotros - 5'11 - DNP
Jio Jalalon - 5'10 - 5pts, 3stls, 2blks, 6 TOs
Miko Tolomia - 5'11 - DNP
Ed Daquioag - 6'1 - DNP
RR Pogoy - 6'2 - 4pts, 2stls
Matthew Wright - 6'4 - 9pts, 2 triples
Kevin Ferrer - 6'5 - 3pts, 2stls
Carl Cruz - 6'5 - 10pts, 2 triples
Christian Standhardinger - 6'8 - 9pts, 10rebs
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Raymer Jose - 6'5 - 0pts, 2stls
Kiefer Ravena - 6'1 - 12pts, 5rebs, 3asts, 3stls, 2 triples
Michael Myers - 6'9 - 7pts 9rebs, 4 TOs
TAIWAN BLUE (TEAM A)
Su Yi-Chieh - 5'11 - PG - Dacin Tigers
Lin Chih-Wei - 6'7 - C/F - Bank of Taiwan
Liu Cheng - 6'4 - SF - Guangsha Lions (CBA) - 2014 SBL MVP
Chou Yi-Hsiang - 6'3 - SG - Dacin Tigers - 2016 & 2017 SBL MVP
Yu Huan-Ya - 6'0 - G - Taiwan Beer
Chou Po-Chen - 6'6 - C/F - Yulon Luxgen
Hu Long-Mao - 6'5 - F - Fujian Sturgeons (CBA)
Lu Cheng-Ju - 6'5 - SF - Yulon Luxgen
Chiang Yu-An - 5'9 - PG - Taiwan Beer
Hu Kai-Hsiang - 6'3 - SG - Yulon Luxgen
Chou Po-Hsun - 6'6 - C/F - Taiwan Beer
Cheng Li-Huan - 6'3 - PG - Bank of Taiwan
Wu Hung-Hsing - 6'8 - C - Pauian
Tseng Wen-Ting - 6'8 - C - Shanghai Sharks (CBA)
Quincy Davos - 6'8 - C - Pauian
Wu Tai-Hao - 6'8 - C - Pauian
Tseng Hsiang-Chun - 6'9 - C - University/TPE U18
Game Notes:
1) PHI: TURNOVER-PRONE
- Gilas turned the ball over way too much vs CAN. Yes, the Pinoys forced a lot of turnovers, too, but that's no excuse for throwing the ball away 22 times. CAN made up for their TOs by shooting 43% from the field compared to just 38% for Gilas.
Jalalon - 6 TOs
Myers - 4 TOs
Parks - 3 TOs
2) PHI: MOVE THE BALL
- Gilas uncharacteristically had only 9 asts yesterday against CAN. For a team priding itself on PUSO and TEAMWORK, 9 asts is too low a number. There were moments Gilas seemed out of the flow of their offense and resorted to 1v1 plays, and that played into the hands of the bigger and more athletic Canadians. PHI needs much better ball movement and playmaking against TPE tonight.
Jalalon - 0asts
Pogoy - 0asts
Myers - 0asts
3) PHI: INEFFECTIVE IMPORT
- Michael Myers was flat out disappointing in his first official game for Gilas. He shot 3/9 from the field, scoring just 7 points. He did grab 9rebs, but this was offset by his 4 TOs and going 1/4 from the line. And to think we were considering him for naturalization. Myers needs a great bounce back game to restore the confidence of the coaching staff and the fans on him.
Myers vs CAN: 7pts, 3/9 FGs, 9rebs, 4 TOs, 1/4 FTs.
4) TPE: KING OF THE BOARDS
- TPE was the bigger team in their game against JPN, and it showed in the stat-sheets, with TPE winning the rebounding battle, 42-27. That's thanks to the scrappiness and hard work of guys like naturalized player Quincy Davis and reserve bigs Chou Po-Hsun and Tseng Wen-Ting. TPE should still be able to give a strong performance against the Pinoys here.
Davis - 11rebs
Chou Po-Hsun - 7rebs
Tseng Wen-Ting - 5rebs
5) TPE: NEW STARS ARISE
- Get to know these two names because they have become the new superstars of Taiwan — 2014 MVP Liu Cheng and 2015 & 2016 MVP Chou Yi-Hsiang. "Gavin" Liu Cheng has been so good for TPE since being named MVP in 2014 that he has been on every single NT ever since and started playing in the CBA for Guangsha. "Shawn" Chou Yi-Hsiang, meanwhile, has been the SBL's best player for two years running. His muscular build and style of play has given rise to the moniker "LeBron of Taiwan." With iconic players Lin Chih-Chieh and Tien Lei no longer around, both Gavin Liu and Shawn Chou will be the new focal points of the offense for TPE Blue.
vs JPN:
Liu - 11pts, 4rebs, 4/7 FGs
Chou - 22pts, 3rebs, 8/15 FGs
6) TPE: TSENG'S & WU'S LAST RIDE?
- With a couple of members of their age group now retired from international ball, Tseng Wen-Ting and Wu Tai-Hao may be looking at the last legs of their own tenure with the national tea. Tseng and Wu were long known as the twin towers of TPE, but with so many big young kids coming up the ranks, the time may soon come when we'll see both Tseng and Wu hanging up their sneakers and giving way to the new generation. That may come at another point this year, but it may also come at some point here at the Jones Cup.
vs JPN:
Tseng - 7pts, 5rebs
Wu - DNP yesteray (He averaged 5.8ppg, 3.6rpg for Pauian in 2016-2017)
7) STARS ON THE RISE
- Gilas is proud to have 19yr old Kobe Paras on the team, but they aren't the only ones who have very promising young tall guys. TPE Blue, in particular, has one of the guys set to inherit the mantle of frontline leadership from Tseng and Wu. This kid is Tseng Hsiang-Chun. They never faced each other at the youth level, but now both long and athletic young bucks will get to test each other. Pinoy fans want to see more of Kobe or at least want him to do a lot more with the basketball. At 6'6, Kobe is perfect for playing as a small forward at the international game, but he will be tested severely by Tseng, who stands 6'9 and is still growing.
Last Game:
Kobe - 4pts, 2blks, 2/2 FGs
Tseng - DNP - averaged around 9.8ppg, 8.3rpg, 66.0 FG% in FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2016
