Iran plus the KBL champs? Rain or Shine has its work cut out.
No easy games for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the Jones Cup.
The Yeng Guiao-helmed squad confirmed its roster for the Taiwan-based tournament, with Gilas Pilipinas' Ange Kouame and American player Nick Evans as reinforcements.
Guiao described 6-foot-10 Evans last week as versatile, quick, and flexible.
"He can play around the basket. Alam mo naman hinahanap ko talaga ‘yung medyo flexible, he can play around the basket, he can shoot threes, he’s quick," Guiao said of the Evans, who went undrafted in the 2012 NBA Draft. He then played in Lebanon and Japan.
Rain or Shine will be looking to get the title, after Mighty Sports Philippines won the last one in 2019.
The Elasto Painters will immediately take on the two Chinese Taipei squads on August 12 and 13, before facing the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Rain or Shine will then have its work cut out during the round robin, as the Filipino squad will face an Iranian team on August 16.
This is not expected to be the main Team Melli squad heading to the FIBA World Cup though, as the Hamed Haddadi-led roster is also scheduled to compete in Georgia during the same period for tune-ups.
The Elasto Painters will then take on KBL champions Anyang KGC, the Japan U22 national team, and UC Irvine of the United States.