WORDS: B.A. BORLEO
ILLUSTRATION: FRANTZ ARNO SALVADOR
August 7, 2009 | 7050 views
Kosuke Takeuchi (Japan)
Position: Forward-Center
Age: 24
Height: 6'9"
If Powerade-Team Pilipinas hopes to advance past the group stages, they would have to find an answer for groupmates Japan's young center Kosuke Takeuchi. At the last Dr. William Jones Cup, the RP team was burned by the 2009 Japanese Basketball League Player of the Year, who finished with 24 points and eight rebounds in his country's come-from-behind 87-85 win.
Ha Seung-in (South Korea)
Position: Center
Age: 24
Height: 7'3"
A former Portland Trail Blazers second-round draft pick, the 7'3" Ha reinforces an already tall and talented Korean team that had beaten Powerade-Team Pilipinas by three points in the recent Jones Cup. And if his turn as a Mythical First Team member and Rookie of the Year awardee in the 2009 Korean Basketball League is any indication, then expect the hulking center to post similar numbers to his 2007 Fiba-ASia 17ppg and 9rpg averages.
Yi Jianlian (China)
Position: Forward-Center
Age: 21
Height: 6'11"
With top player Yao Ming out with a foot injury and gunner Wang Zhizhi being relegated to being the secondary offensive option, the burden of leading host team China to victory rests on the shoulders of the rangy Yi. A 8ppg and 5rpg player for the New Jersey Nets, Yi recently made his first appearance for the Chinese national team in impressive fashion, scoring 30 points in an exhibition game against an Australian All-Star team
