Bahrain names final 12 for William Jones Cup
Greek head coach Georgios Vovoras leads the team into its first appearance at the event since 1978.
Legacy of the Cup
Organised by the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association, the William Jones Cup is one of the longest-running international basketball tournaments outside FIBA sanction. Launched in 1977 and named after FIBA founding member Renato William Jones, the event features national teams, university squads, and professional clubs from across the world.
UAE Friendlies End in Style
Bahrain concluded a joint training camp with the UAE with two strong wins — a 101–71 result in the first game and 94–76 in the second — both held at Khalifa Sports Hall.
All players saw court time across both games, giving Vovoras a final chance to assess combinations and build team rhythm before flying out to Taiwan.
Bahrain is set to face eight opponents in nine days during the tournament.
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5 days ago
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Bahrain hit a wall in Chinese Taipei
TDT | Manama For six games, Bahrain rode a wave of momentum, dispatching every opponent in their path with an ease that belied their 47-year absence from the William Jones Cup. But yesterday night in New Taipei City, the home team had other plans. Chinese Taipei delivered a masterclass in execution, ending Bahrain's unbeaten run with a resounding 93–50 win — a statement performance that showed exactly why they were considered Bahrain's toughest challenge heading into the tournament. Early Blitz Breaks the Game Open From the opening tip, Taipei were locked in. They raced out to a 31–18 first-quarter lead, then tightened the screws with a 29– 12 second quarter. By halftime, it was 60–30, and Bahrain never got close again. Where Chinese Taipei moved the ball crisply and shot with confidence, Bahrain were static, hesitant, and out of sync. Shooting Slump Sinks Bahrain Chinese Taipei shot a red-hot 45.9% from three (17 made), while Bahrain managed just 31.3% from the field and 9-of-38 from deep. The usually reliable outside shooting that had powered Bahrain's earlier wins disappeared under pressure. Turnovers (17 in total) and poor ball movement limited scoring chances. Only Devon Chism found any real rhythm, finishing with 13 points and 9 rebounds on 5-of-9 shooting. Ali Rashed added 9 points and 6 boards, and Mohamed Buallay chipped in 7. But Bahrain's offense never truly fired. Chinese Depth Stands Out Taipei, meanwhile, showed their full offensive arsenal. He Dan led all scorers with 19 points, knocking down five threes on six attempts, while Chen YingChun added 14 points and 5 assists in a brilliant performance. Taipei dominated on the boards, outrebounding Bahrain 52–35, including 15 offensive rebounds, and finished with 22 assists as they ran Bahrain's defense ragged. Defending Champions Await The loss drops Bahrain to 6–1, but there's no time to dwell. They return to the court at 10 AM today against Philippines' Strong Group Athletics, the defending champions and another powerhouse in this year's field. This will be Bahrain's final match of the tournament. Strong Group are coming off an amazing 106– 98 win over Malaysia, which is the highest-scoring game of the tournament so far. It's a tough turnaround, both mentally and physically, but also a chance to show they can bounce back.
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Relentless Bahrain Put Australia to the Sword
TDT | Manama Vovoras' men post tournament-best 106 points to stay perfect in William Jones Cup Bahrain's scorching form at the 44th William Jones Cup continued on Tuesday morning with a 106-91 win over Australia United, their fourth consecutive win in the tournament. Led by head coach Georgios Vovoras, the Kingdom's national team posted their highest scoring total so far, and absorbed the highest total any opponent has put up past them. This was both teams' toughest defensive test yet. The victory followed earlier wins against Japan U25 (85-69), Chinese Taipei White (71-63), and Malaysia (81-69). Now 4-0, Bahrain move into tomorrow's match against the UAE brimming with confidence. Fast Start Bahrain wasted no time asserting themselves, exploding for 32 first-quarter points while holding Australia to just 17. The opening frame reflected Bahrain's interior dominance and ball movement — a theme that would run all night. Despite a 25-24 second quarter in Australia's favor, Bahrain maintained control to take a 56-42 halftime lead. The third quarter was equally impressive, with Bahrain outscoring Australia 27-21 thanks to smart cuts, second-chance points, and unselfish play. Though Australia fought back in the fourth, Bahrain stayed in control to close out a 15-point win. Balanced Scoring JaKarr Sampson led all scorers with 21 points on 56.3% shooting, adding six rebounds and three assists in 20 minutes. He was one of five Bahrain players in double figures. Mohamed Hamoda was electric off the bench, scoring 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting, while Mustafa Rashed controlled the tempo with 16 points and a game-high 10 assists. Devon Chism had a near double-double with 11 points and 10 boards in just under 19 minutes. Ali Alhaddad also impressed, scoring 11 points and hitting two key threes. In total, 10 different players scored for Bahrain. Chemistry on Display Bahrain shot 53% from the field, dished out 33 assists, and dominated the paint, scoring 44 two-point field goals — including 33-of-49 inside the arc (67.3%). Their ability to move the ball and exploit mismatches kept Australia scrambling defensively. Defensively, Bahrain forced 11 turnovers and converted 13 offensive rebounds into second-chance points. They also edged the rebounding battle, 43-40. What's Next? Bahrain face the UAE tomorrow at 8AM (Bahrain time), continuing their grueling eight-game run in Taipei. Later this week, they'll take on Qatar B, Chinese Taipei's senior squad, and defending champions Strong Group Athletics. With four wins in four games and their offense peaking, Bahrain's campaign is building serious momentum.
Daily Tribune
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Bahrain stay unbeaten after pulling away late vs Malaysia
TDT | Manama Third straight win for the Kingdom in the William Jones Cup Bahrain continued their unbeaten run at the 44th William Jones Cup with an 81–69 win over Malaysia on Monday morning in New Taipei City, improving their record to 3–0. The result follows back-to-back wins over Japan U25 (85–69) and hosts Chinese Taipei White (71–63). After a tight first half in which Bahrain trailed by three late in the second quarter, a 25-point third period shifted momentum decisively. Mustafa Rashed led Bahrain's scoresheet with 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including five threes, while Jakarr Sampson added 22 points and 7 rebounds. Quarter-by-Quarter Malaysia opened with a close first half, staying within striking distance. They trailed just 15–13 after the opening quarter and briefly took the lead before Bahrain responded. The sides went into the break with Bahrain narrowly ahead, 35–38. The third quarter, however, saw Bahrain turn the screws defensively, holding Malaysia to just 10 points while pouring in 25 of their own behind key buckets from Sampson and Ahmed Bindayneh. Despite a 21-point fourth-quarter effort from Malaysia, Bahrain closed the game out comfortably. Standouts and stats Beyond Rashed and Sampson, Subah Azzam had a solid outing with 8 points and 2 threes in just 20 minutes. Devon Chism contributed 8 points and 11 rebounds, while Ali Rashed provided playmaking off the bench with 4 assists and efficient minutes. Defensively, Bahrain held Malaysia to 38.8% shooting, including just 24.1% from three, and dominated the glass with 43 total rebounds. Bahrain's 22 team assists reflected strong ball movement and rhythm in halfcourt sets. Malaysia were led by Yi Hou Wong, who scored 27 points, but received little support, with only Chun Hong Ting (18 points) also reaching double figures. What's next? Bahrain's next opponent is Australia United tomorrow at 8AM, followed by matchups against the UAE, Qatar B, Chinese Taipei, and Strong Group Athletics across a packed week.
