Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Zaid Alkhas

I’m just one of the basketball enthusiasts who always remember Michael Jordan leading the Chicago Bulls in a couple of ‘three-peats’ in the NBA (1991-93, 1996-98). This time, however, it will be the men’s basketball team of Jordan who would like to do their own ‘three-peat’ at the William Jones Cup on July 18-26, 2009 in Taipei, Taiwan. This tournament was named after Renato William Jones, one of the pillars of FIBA.

In 2007, Jordan, which has been mentored by Portuguese Mario Palma since late 2006, won the championship for the first time in history of Jordanian basketball. They did the same feat last year. Now, they have a rare opportunity to make it three in row.

Jordan, led by Zaid Alkhas will try to use their height and heft to their advantage. I have observed that since Mario Palma took over as head coach, Jordan has become formidable. I couldn’t forget how our national team in 2007, then known as SMC-Pilipinas and coached by Chot Reyes, lost on two occasions against Jordan. The first was in Jones Cup, a 70-74 close decision and the 76-84 heartbreaking loss at the FIBA-Asia Championships where the Philippines was virtually eliminated from grabbing an Olympic berth.