TAIPEI, Taiwan – Rain or Shine will have to deal with a hulking Taiwanese-American when the Elasto Painters battle Chinese-Taipeh team A Saturday night at the start of the Jones Cup at the Taipei Heping Gymnasium.

Blowing into town Friday, the Elasto Painters will have their hands full as they are booked to play six straight games in as many days.

Apart from William Artino, who stands 6-foot-11, head coach Yeng Guiao and his squad should also be on the lookout for veterans Liu Cheng and Ying-Chun Chen if they are to hurdle their first assignment.

The team didn't waste precious time and immediately bucked down to work shortly after arriving.

"It's always good to start it with a win, especially against the home team. We know the odds are stacked against us but we just have to believe that we can win. If we have a good start we usually have a good ending," said ROS deputy coach Caloy Garcia who facilitated the team's first practice.

Expected to lead the way for ROS are imports Ange Kouame and Nick Evans, although the team will also be relying on the young core of Rey Nambatac, Shaun Ildefonso, Anton Asistio, Santi Santillan and Andrei Caracut.