CHINESE Taipei Blue head coach Giancarlo Tucci defended the controversial format of the 2026 William Jones Cup, saying that it only assured that there will be a championship game.
The Jones Cup’s new format has drawn criticism after Chinese Taipei Blue was guaranteed a semifinal berth regardless of its finish in Group A, while Strong Group Athletics-Pilipinas was eliminated despite posting a 4-1 record.
“I think that this format is good because there are finals,” Tucci said in a post-game presser.
The Italian coach pointed out that previous editions of the Jones Cup typically required teams to play eight games in nine days, with the top seed being declared automatic champions.
Under this year’s format, teams have additional rest days before the knockout stage, allowing players to recover and coaching staffs to prepare tactically.
Tucci’s comments come as the tournament organizers face continued scrutiny over the format, particularly the rule guaranteeing Chinese Taipei Blue a place in the Final Four.
The Chinese Taipei Basketball Association has already acknowledged the criticism and said it will review and improve the tournament format and scheduling for next year’s Jones Cup. (Adrian Co)
