ALL ROADS LEAD TO PASIG CITY

Finally, big time international hoop championship returns to Manila after a six-year absence. The 22nd FIBA Asia Champions Cup reels off tomorrow at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City with ten countries vying for the prestigious title of this annual event. Mahram of Iran won last year’s championship over host Al Rayyan of Qatar. This year’s edition will see both teams landing in the same group during the preliminary round. Group A will be made up of Duhok (Iraq), ASU (Jordan), Kuala Lumpur Dragons (Malaysia), host Smart Gilas Nationals and Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia). Mahram and Al Rayyan leads Group B with Al Riyadi (Lebanon), Al Jala'a (Syria) and Al Shabab (United Arab Emirates). Imports seeing action are Darren Keely and Vladislav Dragajlovic of Al Ittihad, Samaki Walker and Jamaal Miller of Al Jala’a, Chauncey Leslie and Ousseynou Ndiaye of Al Rayyan, Loren Woods and William Carl Pharis of Al Riyadi, Courtney Fields of Al Shabab, Ryan Forehan-Kelly and ex-PBA import Jameel Watkins of ASU, Marcus Morrison and Christopher Martin Ayer of KL Dragons, ex-Smart Gilas stalwart CJ Giles of Duhok and Christopher Williams and Samb Chikh of the defending champions Mahram. Smart Gilas Team Pilipinas will be bannered by naturalized citizen Marcus Douthit, PBA standouts Asi Taulava and Dondon Hontiveros and regulars Chris Tiu, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Lutz and Mark Barroca. The Gilas squad are setting their sights on the championship this year following a dismal 7th place finished last year. Games will be shown locally on IBC-13 via TV 5 Sports. The following is the complete schedule of the preliminary games:

28/05/2011 1 1400 PhilSports PR – A Duhok (IRQ) vs. ASU (JOR)

28/05/2011 2 1600 PhilSports PR – B Al Jala'a (SYR) vs. Mahram (IRI)

28/05/2011 3 1800 PhilSports PR – A Smart Gilas (PHI) vs. Al Ittihad (KSA)

28/05/2011 4 2000 PhilSports PR – B Al Shabab (UAE) vs.Al Riyadi (LIB)

29/05/2011 5 1400 PhilSports PR – A Al Ittihad (KSA) vs. Duhok (IRQ)

29/05/2011 6 1600 PhilSports PR – B Al Rayyan (QAT) vs. Al Jala'a (SYR)

29/05/2011 7 1800 PhilSports PR – A KL Dragons (MAS) vs. Smart Gilas (PHI)

29/05/2011 8 2000 PhilSports PR – B Mahram (IRI) vs.  Al Shabab (UAE)

30/05/2011 9 1400 PhilSports PR – A ASU (JOR) vs. Al Ittihad (KSA)

30/05/2011 10 1600 PhilSports PR – A Duhok (IRQ) vs. KL Dragons (MAS)

30/05/2011 11 1800 PhilSports PR – B Al Riyadi (LIB) vs. Mahram (IRI)

30/05/2011 12 2000 PhilSports PR – B Al Shabab (UAE) vs. Al Rayyan (QAT)

31/05/2011 13 1400 PhilSports PR – B Al Jala'a (SYR) vs. Al Shabab (UAE)

31/05/2011 14 1600 PhilSports PR – A KL Dragons (MAS) vs. ASU (JOR)

31/05/2011 15 1800 PhilSports PR – B Al Rayyan (QAT) vs. Al Riyadi (LIB)

31/05/2011 16 2000 PhilSports PR – A Smart Gilas (PHI) vs. Duhok (IRQ)

01/06/2011 17 1400 PhilSports PR – A Al Ittihad (KSA) vs. KL Dragons (MAS)

01/06/2011 18 1600 PhilSports PR – B Mahram (IRI) vs. Al Rayyan (QAT)

01/06/2011 19 1800 PhilSports PR – B Al Riyadi (LIB) vs. Al Jala'a (SYR)

01/06/2011 20 2000 PhilSports PR – A ASU (JOR) vs. Smart Gilas (PHI)