JORDAN WINS 2007 WILLIAM JONES CUP BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Taipei, July 10 (CNA) Jordan's national team won the 2007 William Jones Cup basketball tournament Tuesday with a record of seven wins and two losses in the 10-team men's group, with Jordanian guard Rashiem Wright named Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Lebanon finished runner-up with six wins and three losses under the single round-robin format. Home team Taiwan tied with four other teams at five wins and four losses but ranked seventh after the tie-breaker rule was used to decide the final placings.

The Philippines, Iran, South Korea and Athletes in Action from the U.S. ranked from third to sixth place, respectively, in the tournament that is regarded as a warmup for the Asian Basketball Championship for Men, which will be played in Tokushima, Japan from July 28-Aug. 8. Eight of the 10 participating countries fielded their national teams.

Qatar, which had three wins and six losses, ranked eighth. Kazakhstan and Japan, both with two wins and seven losses, ranked ninth and 10th.

Athletes in Action, a team consisting of mostly U.S. college players, failed to defend the championship they won last year.

The tournament was created in 1977 to honor Dr. Williams Jones, who was FIBA secretary-general at the time and had been supporting Taiwan in the international basketball community. Because of cross-straight disputes with China, Taiwan was barred from the international basketball competition until 1986.

The seven-team women's group will start play Wednesday in a competition that will run through July 17.

JONES CUP INTERNATIONAL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT BEGINS

Taipei, July 2 (CNA) The William Jones Cup International Basketball Tournament, one of the most popular basketball events in Taiwan, began Monday at the start of 16 days of basketball action that includes 17 men's and women's teams from 13 countries.

Ten teams are in the men's competition, which runs through July 10 with Athletes in Action (AIA) , a team from the U.S., looking to defend its title from last year. Seven women's teams will compete in the women's competition from July 11-17 at the Sinjhuang Stadium in Taipei County.

Close games highlighted the opening day with the Philippines upsetting defending champion AIA 72-67. Jordan beat Kazakhstan 63-61 on a last shot and South Korea edged out Qatar 70-69. Lebanon defeated Iran 80-71.

This year's men's competition is regarded as a warmup for the Asian Basketball Championship for Men, which will be played in Tokushima, Japan from July 28-Aug. 8. Eight of the 10 participating countries, including Taiwan, Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon, Iran, South Korea, Kazakhstan and the Philippines, are fielding their national teams.

Japan sent its World University Games national team, while the AIA consists of mostly U.S. college players.

Participating teams in the women's group include New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Athletes in Action and two home teams -- Taiwan Blue Team and White Team.

The tournament was created in 1977 to honor Dr. Williams Jones, who was FIBA secretary-general at the time and had been supporting Taiwan in the international basketball community. Because of cross-straight disputes with China, Taiwan was barred from the international basketball competition until 1986.