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2011 FIBA – Asia Championship Draw results

Benjie — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 08:09:48 +0000

Photo Courtesy: Philippinesgoforgold.blogspot.com

Group A

Lebanon

India

Malaysia

South Korea

Group B

Qatar

TBD

Chinese – Taipei

Iran

Group C

Japan

Indonesia

Syria

Jordan

Group D

Philippines

United Arab Emirates

Bahrain

China

3rd FIBA-Asia Stankovic Cup final rankings

Benjie — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:16:11 +0000

3^rd FIBA-Asia Stankovic Cup final rankings

Date: August 7-15, 2010

Host nation: Lebanon

Rank Team

1 Lebanon

2 Japan

3 Qatar

4 Philippines

5 Jordan

6 Iran

7 Chinese-Taipei

8 Kazakhstan

9 Iraq

10 Syria

32nd Jones Cup final rankings

Benjie — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:34:47 +0000

32nd Jones Cup final rankings

Date: July 14-20, 2010

Host: Chinese-Taipei

Rank Team

1 I.R. Iran National Team

2 Lebanon National Team

3 Japan National Team

4 Philippines National Team

5 Chinese-Taipei National Team

6 Chinese-Taipei University All-Stars

7 Townsville Crocodiles (Australia)

32nd Jones Cup tidbits – Part II

Benjie — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:09:56 +0000

Six grueling games in seven days of intense competition is over in Taipei. Here are more of my thoughts in the annual tournament in honor of Renato William Jones, one of the pillars of FIBA:

Japan and Chinese-Taipei national teams can match the speed and quickness of the Philippine national team. That’s the reason the Japanese were able to hold off the Filipinos in Day 6 of the tournament, 84-74. Chinese-Taipei, likewise, pushed the Filipinos to the brink with its cat-quick reflexes among their players. Philippines edged out Chinese-Taipei,96-93 though.
Iran cemented its status as a powerhouse in Asia. Winning the title in this tournament in succession plus their two consecutive crowns in FIBA-Asia championship prove to be enough to be considered at par with China. Iran is loaded with quality guards that can catch the quickness of East Asians. It has reliable wingmen that can break-off zone defense and more importantly, Iran has frontline that control the shaded lane. They are truly reaping the fruits of Rajko Toroman’s labor who guided their basketball program a few years back.
Spotty officiating was a major issue throughout the tournament. It was at its worst during the first half of the Lebanon-Philippines game where Lebanon’s Ghaleb Reda intentionally elbowed Filipino Marcio Lassiter’s head right before the very eyes of the two referees. Lassiter went down the floor and the two referees did not bother to blow their whistles. They must have swallowed their whistles in that particular moment. I wish the organizers should try to improve the officiating so as not to lose participants in this tourney. Remember last year between Iran and Jordan? That’s the reason behind Jordan national team did not participate anymore in this year’s edition.

32nd Jones Cup tidbits – Part I

Benjie — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 10:42:50 +0000

It’s Day 4 of the 32^nd William Jones Cup in Taipei and so far we have witnessed how some of the elite teams in Asia play against each other. As of the moment of this posting, Middle Eastern powerhouse teams Iran and Lebanon are still playing. Smart Gilas-Pilipinas are taking a day off after a 2-1 start. Here are my thoughts on the first three days of the tournament:

Iran has proven its maturity as a team. They beat the Philippines 81-68 on its first game and Japan 77-73 on the second game. What makes their two wins special is the fact that they did it without three national mainstays Hamed Haddadi, Javad Davari and Hamed Afagh. Probably those three can make a difference.
Japan is for real. After a disappointing decade in the international basketball, it seems that they are as serious as most of the elite teams in Asia. Though they lost twice already, those twin losses were close enough. They led most of the way against Lebanon until they ran out of gas and lost 82-87. Against Iran, the Japanese were just beaten by 4 points, 73-77. It seems that they are dead serious in trying to reclaim the respect the other countries had with them before.
Smart Gilas has shown its vast improvement with a healthy line-up and a naturalized prospect. It’s just a matter of time that this team reaches its peak. They lost to Iran by 13 points but I can see their progress as a team.

I’ll be posting my thoughts as the tournament progresses.

Benjsports.com @ 1

Benjie — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:20:53 +0000

I started blogging online in July last year, July 10 to be exact. I wrote my first post about the various sports events on that month. I remember that I was full of excitement when I did my first post. I was nervous. And as I said before, there’s always a first time for everything. So I had to deal with it.

Twelve months later, I have written a total of 147 posts on this site. This affirms that the count to one hundred begins with one. I have been blogging about different sports stuff, may it be in boxing, basketball and a few about tennis. However, I have thought of giving more attention on basketball particularly on the various international tournaments in Asia. Starting last April, that has been the focus of this site. I find the international basketball competitions here in Asia very exciting, very stiff and competitive. Before, we’re used to seeing China and South Korea in the finals with the former eventually clinching the title in the Asian level competition. Japan, Philippines and Kazakhstan used to slug it out for a place in the elite four. But times and things have changed. It has become almost everybody’s ballgame.

It is for that reason that I have decided to focus my thoughts on the international basketball in Asia. Nonetheless, it has been a rewarding experience to blog online for one year. I am looking forward for the next twelve months as I blog more about FIBA-Asia competitions.

2010 FIBA – Asia Champions Cup final rankings

Benjie — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 09:44:13 +0000

2010 FIBA – Asia Champions Cup final rankings

Date: May 22 – 30, 2010

Host nation: Qatar

Rank Team

1 I.R. Iran – Mahram

2 Qatar – Al Rayyan

3 Lebanon – Al Riyadi

4 Jordan – ASU

5 Kazakhstan – Astana Tigers

6 Syria – Al Jalaa

7 Philippines – Smart Gilas

8 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Al Hilal

9 United Arab Emirates – Al Nasr

10 Iraq – Duhok

Changing of the ‘benches’

Benjie — Fri, 21 May 2010 10:00:04 +0000

Photo Courtesy: Philstar.com

We’re approaching the end of May and by this time almost all of the professional basketball leagues across Asia are done with their campaigns. All eyes are on the formation and training of the respective national teams. As the competitions get tougher, some countries have already begun to overhaul their programs starting with the changing of the coaches and their staff.

China, coming from an embarrassing loss in their homecourt in the championship game last year, made a bold step in hiring American Bob Donewald, Jr.. Gone as head coach was countryman Guo Shiqiang. South Korea, likewise, named Yoo Jae-hak of the recent KBL champion Ulsan Mobis replacing former superstar Hur Jae to handle the coaching chores. Former US national team coach and veteran NBA tactician Lenny Wilkens joins Yoo at the bench. Still in the east, Japan hopes to check their continuing skid by taking on Illinois native Tom Wisman. Wisman has been the coach of the Link Tochigi Brex in the JBL Super League since 2008. He also used to handle the British and the Malaysians on the international arena. Down southeast, the Philippines hoping to regain the basketball supremacy on Asia has been training under the guidance of Rajko Toroman. The Serbian national, who led the Iranians for the title in 2007, is confident that he can take the Philippines back to its throne. Gone was Yeng Guiao who coached in the 2009 Worlds qualifier.

Across the western part of the continent, Lebanon severed ties with Serbian Dragan Raca while Iran and Jordan are keeping with Veselin Matic and Mario Palma respectively. Raca, who mentored the Lebanese in 2007 FIBA-Asia championship that finished second and last year’s edition that placed fourth was sacked in favor of Tab Baldwin. Baldwin is a Kiwi-American who steered New Zealand to a fourth place finish in the 2002 World Championship in Indianapolis, USA.

These are just some of the scenarios of the different teams while preparing for tougher competitions ahead. To stay competitive, Asian teams are changing their ‘benches’.

Pacquiao vs. Mayweather: Will it really happen?

Benjie — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 06:09:58 +0000

Photo Courtesy: Allan Miel and Examiner.com

As of the moment, the much awaited fight between Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines and American Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is in the works. In principle, both have agreed to a mega showdown on March 13, 2010. But there is still a fundamental issue to be settled, that is the venue of the fight. I think it boils down to economics in choosing the host of the event.

Besides, there are specific concerns that need to be ironed out before this fight happens. Firstly, the money matters. At first, the Mayweather camp demanded a 65-35 split in their favor. I think they are more than stupid if they insist on that. But eventually, it was reported that Floyd’s camp has begun to realize their fantasy and accept closer to a 50-50 sharing. For the record, Mayweather’s last PPV fight with Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico generated about a million buys. In contrast, Pacquiao’s recent outing with Cotto reached at least 1.2 million PPV buys. With it, Floyd’s camp should stop dreaming.

Secondly, the weight issue. Pacquiao has fought above 140 pounds just twice – against Dela Hoya and recently against Cotto. Mayweather, on the other hand, has fought five times at 147 and once at 154. This simply suggests that by nature, Floyd is a larger specie compared to Manny. For sure Manny should insist to make the fight closer to 140 while Floyd is expected to make it closer to 147.

With the year about to end, people from all walks of life and races are more than excited to find out whether this ‘fight of the decade’ will become a reality in 2010.

Philippine boxing has Cebu to thank for

Benjie — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 09:03:05 +0000

Photo Courtesy: AllbestofPhilippines.blogspot.com

I have been trying to list down Filipino boxers who are on the doorstep to stardom. Boxers who may carry the torch once Manny Pacquiao decides to hang up his gloves. My list includes Rey Bautista, Donnie Nietes, Ciso Morales, Marvin Sonsona, Brian Villoria, Bernabe Concepcion and AJ Banal. I found out that most of them have something in common. That is it’s either they come from Cebu or have been trained in Cebu.

It’s a reality that Cebu has produced a number of great Filipino athletes over the years boxing included. And for this reason I would like to commend the Cebuanos for their contribution in Philippine boxing. The provincial government of Cebu and the city governments of Cebu and Mandaue have their share in the pie through their sports programs. Besides, boxing patrons with the likes of the Saluds, the Aldeguers and the Gello-anis have contributed a lot in molding world class boxers. Furthermore, on the technical aspect, trainers Jun Agrabio, Brix Flores, Edito and Edmund Villamor and the Peñalosas deserve credit too.

May they continue to support young and aspiring Filipino boxers as we are about to turn the pages of Philippine boxing history.