VANCOUVER – For the UBC Thunderbirds men's basketball team, the upcoming trip to Taiwan for the 41st annual William Jones Cup serves a multitude of purposes – it serves as their first real test against high-level competition ahead of the 2019-20 U SPORTS season, it helps the players develop chemistry on and off the court, and it allows the coaches to evaluate and adjust the roster.
And for one player in particular, the trip has even more meaning.
UBC forward
Jonah Morrison, who hails from Toufen in northern Miaoli County, Taiwan, is a rising star in the Chinese Taipei national basketball program. Even prior to committing to UBC, Morrison had already made a name for himself with the national team, averaging 9.5 points and 11.5 boards at last summer's FIBA U-18 Asian Championships, before seeing some developmental training sessions with the senior squad.
The budding star, both on the basketball court and on Instagram (
@_.official_8), is excited to play with in his old stomping grounds. He's currently training in Taiwan, and was joined by his UBC teammates, who left Vancouver today. However, Morrison, who is entering his second season at may not have a chance to take them sightseeing, as the 'Birds are packing a ton of game time into the trip, which is set to run until Monday, July 22.
After finishing training in Taipei on July 11, the Thunderbirds will open the round robin portion of the tournament with a match against Chinese Taipei National Team B, one of two squads competing on behalf of the host country, on July 12.
The 'Birds will then face the national team from Indonesia on July 13, followed by a showdown with Chinese Taipei National Team A on July 14 a clash with the Philippines national team on the 15th, and a battle with the Irish national team on July 16.
After a single rest day, the Thunderbirds will then square off against the national team from South Korea on July 18, the Jordan National squad on July 20, and then close out the competition with a battle against Japan on July 21.
For UBC head coach
Kevin Hanson, the trip is about exposing his squad to as high a level of competition as possible, as quickly as possible.
"It is an honour for our team to play in the Jones Cup," said the coach. "Most countries are sending their senior national teams and are using this tournament as a tune up for the World Cup which takes place in August. It is an incredible opportunity for our players to play against national level teams and to play in front of packed crowds and scouts from around the world. It is a historic tournament and we are very fortunate to have been invited to participate."
After the William Jones Cup, UBC will head to Hong Kong to contest one final match, against the Macau Black Bears.
