Games Friday (Hsinchuang Gymnasium, Taiwan)
3 p.m. — Japan vs Iran
5 p.m. — Australia vs Philippines
7 p.m. — Chinese Taipei vs Lebanon

HSINCHUANG CITY, Taiwan — Aside from the Smart-Gilas national team, four other teams seeing action here are using the 32nd William R. Jones Cup as a training camp and scouting opportunity in preparation for the Asian Games this November in Guangzhou, China.

Defending FIBA-Asia champion Iran, Lebanon, Japan, host Chinese Taipei and the Philippines are all treating this annual event an avenue to spot up their rivals’ line-up.

The national team is playing for the first time with American import Marcus Douthit in a tournament abroad, although the team’s composition is expected to change once the PBA approves the request of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) to allow 6-foot-8 forward Kelly Williams of Talk ’N Text to join the Smart-Gilas.

Serbian mentor Rajko Toroman said that Williams’ experience, height and athletic ability will be a crucial factor in the national team’s campaign in the Asian Games.

As for the 6-goot-10 Douthit, who recently signed a contract with Smart-Gilas, his application for naturalization is now being processed, and once the Congress approves it, he will be allowed to play for the national team in all FIBA-Asia sanctioned events.

Lebanon, on the other hand, is without veteran forward Fadi El Khatib here in the Jones Cup because of a back injury.

Newly installed American coach Thomas Baldwin, who took over the team’s coaching spot some three weeks back, said that El Khatib’s condition will be assessed before the Asian Games, although he doubts if “he can adjust quickly to the new system.”