The Jones Cup is supposed to be the last tune-up match for the team before the Fiba-Asia Men’s Championship in Wuhan, but head coach Rajko Toroman said the nationals badly need to see action in tournaments, and the events in Doha and Macau will just be perfect for them.

The timing would be just right, according to Toroman, because their reinforcement from the pro league will be available by then.

Four pros are expected to join the squad after the August 6 to 14 Jones Cup.

“I don’t know which national teams will be playing in those tournaments but those are designed to prepare them for Wuhan,” said Toroman.

The team was originally set to fly to Europe for a series of tune-up games against club teams in Serbia, Turkey and Portugal but the plan was scrapped because key players are expected to miss the trip.

“I want to have a full team at least three weeks before the Olympic qualifier and those tournaments in Taiwan, Qatar and Macau will help us a lot in reaching our goal,” he said.

Also being planned are a pair of exhibition games against a selection of National Basketball Association (NBA) stars, including Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls and Kevin Durant of Oklahoma Thunder.

Toroman was awaiting the results of the draw for the Fiba-Asia tournament set from September 15 to 25 in the province of Hubei. The draw was set on Wednesday night at the Holiday Inn Riverside in Wuhan.

Sixteen countries are participating in the Asian qualifier, with only the champion getting an automatic slot to the 2012 London Olympics while the second and third placers will get berths to the Fiba Olympic qualifier next year.

Back-to-back Fiba-Asia champion Iran, host China, Lebanon, South Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei, the Philippines, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Indonesia, Jordan and Syria are seeing action.

Two more teams will come from Middle Asia, which is still holding its regional qualifying tournament.

(Joel Orellana)