RAIN or Shine is bringing in one more import to bolster its campaign as the country’s representative to the coming 42nd Jones Cup.

Head coach Yeng Guiao told the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday the Elasto Painters are tapping 6-foot-10 Nick Evans to team up with naturalized player Ange Kouame in reinforcing the squad for the August 12-20 meet in Taipeh.

Admitting the team is lacking in size, the presence of both Kouame, who is also 6-foot-10, and Evans would definitely come in handy for the Elasto Painters, according to Guiao.

“Nung nakita namin yung lineup ng teams and yung makakalaban namin doon, malakas yung competition. So management decided to bring in another import. We will have Ange Kouame and itong si Nick Evans, who’s coming in siguro by Saturday or Sunday to join us,” said the former Gilas Pilipinas coach as he graced the public sports program at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Evans, a veteran big man who had stints in Japan, Colombia, Thailand, and Lebanon, will start practicing with Rain or Shine on Monday before the team leaves for Taiwan on Friday (Aug. 11).

“Cramming na naman yan. Ilang raw lang na ensayo, tapos sasabak na tayo sa Jones Cup,” added Guiao, the former congressman and vice-governor of Pampanga, who is in his third Jones Cup stint.

A total of nine teams are seeing action in this year’s Jones Cup, which is making a comeback after a three-year absence following the outbreak of the pandemic.

Guaio mentioned that national teams of Iran, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Taipeh (Teams A and B) are competing alongside the Japan U-20 team, a US team represented by the University of California-Irvine, and reigning KBL (Korean Basketball League) and EASL (East Asia Super League) champion Anyang KGC bannered by former NBA player Omari Spellman.

“Tignan natin, baka makapag-compete tayo. (But) we’ll represent the country the best way we can,” Guiao said in the session presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, MILO, Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

Represented by Mighty Sports, the Philippines won two of the last four editions of the annual meet prior to the pandemic, including its last staging in 2019 behind a team backstopped by imports Eugene Phelps, Renaldo Balkman, and McKenzie Moore, along with Fil-Ams Jeremiah Gray, Jason Brickman, and Roosevelt Adams.

“Ang mahirap dito may pressure nga dahil yung previous team (natin) before the pandemic pa, nag-champion. Kaya lang nakita naman natin lima yata yung import nila,” said Guiao. “So yung sa atin talagang organic lang, organic team ito. So malaking difference yung may five imports and an organic team like ours.”

Guiao also took the opportunity to thank Rain or Shine co-team owners Raymund Yu and Terry Que for not hesitating to take the offer made by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) through the PBA for the team to take part in the Jones Cup.

“Nagpapasalamat tayo kina Boss Terry and Boss Raymund dahil kahit kelan hindi nagkait ng players or talent ang mga yan pagdating sa pagpapahiram sa national team, hindi nagda-dalawang isip ang mga yan,” said the Rain or Shine mentor, recalling the same gesture the two PBA owners did when he also coached the Gilas Pilipinas team in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.

The entire Rain or Shine team, including veteran Gabe Norwood who cut short his US vacation, will be going to the Jones Cup where the Elasto Painters will play eight games in nine days. (ai/mnm)

Sniper Leonard Santillan (left) of Rain or Shine is expected to go all out for Team PH in the Jones Cup. (PBA photo courtesy)

Rain or Shine’s sharpshooters, Rey Nambatac and Leonard Santillan, are already adopting a winning mindset as they gear up for the 2023 William Jones Cup, set to commence on August 12 in Chinese Taipei.

Despite the tournament’s three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Elasto Painters are eager to face challenging international competition once again.

In an interview with mainstream media, both young leaders from Rain or Shine acknowledged the tough opposition they expect to encounter in the upcoming event.

Rey Nambatac expressed his excitement about the chance to test their character and gain valuable experience on the international stage.

As a relatively young team, the latest batch of Rain or Shine players is determined to prove themselves.

They are fortunate to have seasoned veterans like Beau Belga and Gabe Norwood, who bring their experience from representing the national team on multiple occasions.

With this mix of youth and experience, Rain or Shine is ready to give their all in the prestigious Jones Cup tournament.

(ai/mnm)

Rain or Shine has been selected to proudly represent the Philippines in the upcoming William Jones Cup, scheduled to take place from August 12 to 20 in Taiwan.

Confirming the team’s participation, Rain or Shine’s team governor, Atty. Mamerto Mondragon, announced that they have received an official invitation from the tournament organizers. The decision to join the prestigious basketball event was supported by PBA commissioner Willy Marcial and league chairman Ricky Vargas.

“We have received a gracious invitation from the organizers of the Jones Cup. Our team owners have also held discussions with the commissioner of the PBA regarding this opportunity. It is indeed an honor for us to represent our country,” stated Mondragon in an interview with The Manila Times on Tuesday.

Mondragon further revealed that Ange Kouame, the former Ateneo standout and Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player, will join the Rain or Shine team as a reinforcement. Following discussions with Gilas team manager Butch Antonio, it has been confirmed that the 25-year-old Kouame will be loaned to Rain or Shine as their import for the tournament.

“Ange has been released from his duties with Gilas to compete for our team,” he affirmed. “This will provide an excellent platform for our team to test their skills and further develop.”

Kouame is one of the three naturalized players in the Gilas pool, alongside Justin Brownlee and Utah Jazz star Jordan Clarkson.

The Jones Cup makes a comeback after a three-year hiatus caused by the global Covid-19 pandemic that emerged in 2020.

This will be Rain or Shine’s first time representing the Philippines since their core players competed for the national team during the 2018 Asian Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia.

With a young core comprising Rey Nambatac, Leonard Santillan, Andrei Caracut, Gian Mamuyac, and supported by veterans Beau Belga and Gabe Norwood, Rain or Shine aims to further develop their skills and utilize this tournament as preparation for the upcoming 48th season of the PBA, set to commence on October 15.

Having secured victory in the 2016 and 2019 editions with Mighty Sports as the national representatives, mentored by Charles Tiu, the Philippines will seek to add another triumphant chapter to their Jones Cup history.