Americans on top in Jones Cup

For the Times West Virginian

TAIPEI, Taiwan July 17, 2008 01:06 am

— The Athletes in Action completed its preliminary phase of the Jones Cup Basketball Tournament on Wednesday night with a 102-80 victory over improved Taiwan to finish in first place with a 6-1 record.
As a result, the Americans were seeded No. 1 in the semifinals. Jordan (5-2) is the No. 2 seed. Australia (4-3) is No. 3 and Qatar (4-3) No. 4 on the basis of head-to-head. Other teams and their records: Egypt (4-3), Kazakhstan (3-4), Taiwan (1-6) and Korea (1-6).
Jordan is the only team to defeat AIA and that was on the tourney’s first day
Wellington Smith of West Virginia University had 14 points and six rebounds in AIA’s 93-76 victory over Egypt as his team clinched a semifinals berth. That made the Americans’ record 5-1.
Da’Sean Butler is WVU’s other representative in the Jones Cup competition. He wasn’t mentioned in either of the team’s last two games in reports back to the U.S.
Laval Lucas-Perry had 22 points, B. Winkelman 21 and B. Woodside 19 in the American’s victory over Taiwan.
In Thursday’s semifinals, AIA will play Qatar and Jordan meets Australia. The other four teams are in the consolation bracket.