Basketball Jones Cup

I have been watching the Jones Basketball cup for a few days now and I've got to say that a basketball crazed nation like the Philippines should fare well against the rest of Asia. The Philippine basketball team has seen a lot of changes in its line up from premier three point shooters on RenRen Ritualo to athletic and quick players with Norwood and Aguilar. However, one thing remains the same, their size perhaps is most eye catching and most detrimental for their team. They may have Taulava and other big men but most of them are not true bigs that can compete with the bigs of the world. Imagine the strongest and biggest guy out their for the Philippine national team is somewhat of a Mark Madsen type who has probably lesser agility and quickness. The size of the team really has hurt them in this Jones cup and as of yesterday, they were 0-2. They were pounded by 31 points in the first game against a much stronger Jordan team and went down the wire with a team that they matched toe to toe with on Chinese Taipei. They are currently in last place and it does not seem that they can make a push in the Asian Championship to challenge Chinese national squad or any other quality team for that matter. Because in this Jones cup, they loaded their team with A listers of the PBA. Compared to previous years in this tournament, they made a team with the best possible line up out of the Filipinos and they gave a lot of practice and training into it. Still, it ends with losses to teams that may not even qualify for the world championships. But moving up the ladder, Team Korea is smiling brightly with a 3-0 record after beating the previous Asian champions Iran. Team Korea might consist of recognizable players but they too lack the size because of the absence of ex-NBA player Ha Seung Jin. But why are they in the top of the standings? It is because of their identity. A team that has an identity of having caliber three point threats and playing smartly on every occasion. They don't finish with an athletic move, they don't appear in any highlight reels, they don't dunk on someone, or for that matter, they don't try to expose their skills. Their skill set are exposed on their own by the way they play their fundamental game. The Philippine team perhaps might have the strength to match the Korean team but when the game goes to the wire, the Philippine team will only hope that luck will be by their side because if not, the Korean team or in fact any other team in the tournament will show how it should be done by playing their own game.