Smart Gilas: Reliability is key

source: Joaquin Henson | philstar.com

According to SBP executive director Noli Eala, the perfect naturalization candidate for the Smart-Gilas national basketball team is an “import” who can defend the post, rebound and score but most importantly, someone who is reliable and willing to play hard within coach Rajko Toroman’s system.

“With an import, there’s no doubt in my mind we would’ve won the championship in the recent Dubai Invitationals,” said Eala, referring to the tournament where Smart-Gilas finished third despite playing most of the way without Jamal Sampson.

“It’s too bad about Jamal. There was never anything personal between Jamal and me or Rajko. In fact, we had long discussions in trying to work things out. The issue wasn’t about his talent because he certainly is a talented player. The issue was about reliability. He was just always injured. He was down with a headache, a backache, a stomach ache or pain in the knees or the back. We never knew if he was ready to play. In a program like ours, our guys have to be ready to play when the time comes. We only get one shot to advance in a FIBA-style competition. It’s difficult to live with a situation where we couldn’t be sure of Jamal’s condition.”

Eala said Sampson’s gripes about the team were baseless.

“I’d rather not comment on his allegations which are all false because I really don’t want to dignify his claims,” said Eala. “Before Jamal left, we had a good meeting. We settled things. There was an amount we withheld because he left behind unpaid bills, which he has to pay for. He gave his phone to a friend Chris Childress and we’re still waiting for the last bill. Chris was with him in Manila and is now visiting his brother Josh, a former NBA star playing in Greece.”

Eala denied Sampson’s “scoop” that the Smart-Gilas players were disgruntled because of salary issues.

“First of all, Jamal had very little contact with his teammates,” said Eala. “His allegations were based on hearsay or double hearsay and you don’t give credence to that. Our guys practically killed themselves to win in Dubai. As is often mentioned in law, the thing speaks for itself. Our performance in Dubai spoke for itself. The team is fine, the boys are good and they’re practicing well.”

* * *

Eala welcomed team manager Frankie Lim’s arrival to the team.

“Frankie’s here to help,” said Eala. “We’ve had a smooth transition. Frankie is in charge of managing the team and his concerns include logistics, recruiting and signing of players, team composition and practices. He is working closely with Rajko in those aspects. As for the SBP, we will continue to be involved in the areas of marketing, media and coordination with basketball federations and FIBA. Smart-Gilas is an SBP team and program and we in SBP will remain a part of its directions and plans.”

Eala said he has briefed Lim on Sampson.

“Everything I know, Frankie knows,” said Eala. “Throughout his stay with us, I tried to keep Jamal sane and happy. I’ve spoken with his agent (Chris Emmen) and we both think it wasn’t right for him to say the things he did about our team. He probably did it out of self-defense because he’s still a guy in the market. It was to protect his image. Although we were exasperated because of his injuries, we never called him a faker. We never questioned his integrity. We never accused him of making up his injuries. The whole point was about reliability and Jamal just wasn’t ready to play whenever we needed him.”

Regarding the decision to retain Toroman’s staff, assistant coach Allan Gregorio said it was a morale booster.

“Credit goes to the dedication and professionalism of our players,” said Gregorio. “Even with coach Rajko in the US, we have maintained the integrity and focus in our practices. It was a good one-week experience to head the team.”

Lim confirmed the other day that Gregorio, Jude Roque and Djalma Arnedo will stay with the team on Toroman’s recommendation. There were prior suggestions to “upgrade” the staff by recruiting Binky Favis, Ed Cordero, Bong Ramos and Derick Pumaren. Lim, however, did not retain the team management committee made up of Butch Antonio, Rico Meneses, Bernie Atienza and Joey Bautista.

* * *

Meanwhile, Toroman flew back to Manila on a Philippine Airlines flight last Tuesday after a one-week scouting mission in Los Angeles where he watched several naturalization candidates in game action.

Toroman went to the US to look for a big man to reinforce the Smart-Gilas lineup after C. J. Giles and Sampson failed to make the grade.

At least six players were in Toroman’s radar. But his first choice, 6-11 Courtney Sims of the University of Michigan, may not be available. Golden State coach Don Nelson has reportedly zeroed in on Sims as a possible addition to the Warriors roster.

Toroman’s other picks were 7-0 Michael Fey of UCLA, 6-10 Dwayne Jones of St. Joseph’s and 7-0 Earl Barron of Memphis. Jones, 26, has played for Boston, Cleveland and Charlotte in four NBA seasons while Barron, 28, once suited up for Red Bull in the PBA and saw action for the Miami Heat. Also in Toroman’s watch list were 7-0 Gabriel Hughes of California and 6-10 Kurt Looby of Iowa.

Before Toroman left for Los Angeles, Lim brought two players to Manila for tryouts - 6-10 Darian Townes of Arkansas and 6-10 Jameel Watkins of Georgetown. Neither was particularly impressive.

18 comments

Anonymous // February 25, 2010 8:57 AM

i hope they wil get the right import kahit d explosive pero masipag kumuha ng rebound at magaling magdepensa.,tingin cu kc un ang purpose nea para sa smart gilas dahil halos lahat scorer.,dominant center lang tlga kulang

kaide19
Anonymous // February 25, 2010 9:05 AM

So who's it gonna be, Jones or Fey?
Anonymous // February 25, 2010 9:08 AM

If any seven footer, like Slaughter can help Gilas how much more Seven foot imports? So bring on any import who has the best attitude.
Anonymous // February 25, 2010 9:24 AM

one import plus gian chiu and/or fajardo...

rj
H // February 25, 2010 9:33 AM

Is it true that a certain lawyer, acting as agent for a 6-10 potential star in the Philippine national basketball team, has unreasonable demands preventing the kid from joining Smart-Gilas? If the lawyer has the player’s best interest at heart, he should allow coach Rajko Toroman to work with the young center. Maybe, patriotism is not in the lawyer’s vocabulary...
Anonymous // February 25, 2010 10:17 AM

Sgt. Slaughter has a big potential. Given time and a good bigman coach he can be effective. He must learn to use his body and develop a pivot foot and a jump hook. He is agile as a big man even better than an EJ Feihl.
Anonymous // February 25, 2010 10:32 AM

go for the attitude of the import first....sayang lang pag nanggugulo lang sa gilas team...
Anonymous // February 25, 2010 10:55 AM

"an import who can defend the post, rebound and SCORE." Tama si Noli Eala, kukuha rin lang ng import yung "kumpleto rikado" na. Contrary ito sa comment ng iba na Ok na basta mahusay lang magrebound at mag depensa kc hindi sa lahat ng oras magiging effective ang ating outside shooting. Kung may mas shooting si Fey kay Jones, mas pabor ako kay Fey, 7 footer ito at pareho naman na may depensa at rebounder.
Anonymous // February 25, 2010 10:56 AM

I've seen Elie Sechbach's interview with Michael Fey, haven't seen him play but he's a legit 7 footer and a D-leaguer and just tried out with the Lakers. I can tell he is a good guy he's outspoken and seems to be enjoying basketball. Unlike the aura of Jamal Sampson who seems to have skeletons in his closets from the start. Sampson looks like a primadonna while Fey looks more like a team player
Anonymous // February 25, 2010 10:56 AM

Dwayne Jones has attitude- go for Michael Fey he's a good choice
Anonymous // February 25, 2010 11:13 AM

Sinbad is Michael Fey's nickname and he will help us conquer the Middle East and the Far East!! Go Smart Gilas!!!
Anonymous // February 25, 2010 11:32 AM

Both jones and fey are qualified for the team, and if both have shown their willingness to be naturalized, then they should be judged on how much they love the game.

Compensation should not be used as a motivating factor although it serves as a hygiene factor (if a good garbage collector gets PHP 200 per day, of course he will demotivated if you pay him 100 per day to do the same work).

Hope the decision to naturalized any of these 2 candidates will be based on their attitude towards the game and not solely on their statistics. They should be treated as persons and not as commodity.

Nyenye
Anonymous // February 25, 2010 12:18 PM

what happen to gian chiu? di ba sya available?
Anonymous // February 25, 2010 1:38 PM

Michael Fey is a legit 7 footer and white american. Hindi halata na import kasi magka simputi lang nina Slaughter, Cris Chiu, Lassiter at Lutz. Go for Fey..
Anonymous // February 25, 2010 1:42 PM

Noli Eala said it best, na Reliability is the key. Dapat kasi reliable, kasi pag one game lang na matalo tayo, wala na. Antay na naman tayo ng 2016.
Anonymous // February 25, 2010 6:12 PM

what happened to sean anthony? d nba xa ksma sa gilas
Anonymous // February 25, 2010 6:47 PM

Wag na kumuha ng Center a pinoy gian chiu?! eh ttraning nnman wla n Panahon. . .

Import and Need
Anonymous // February 26, 2010 2:14 AM

MR HENSON, salamat sa article sa GILAS. SALUDO ako sayo. Tama na paninira sa mga katulad ni QH kung ano ano kasi naiisip nyo. Wala lang article anti gilas na, eala etc puro TSISMIS na walang katuturan.
Lets just support our own RP TEAM LAHAT MAGKAISA pati media. QH lagi andyan yan para sa basketball fans lalo sa rp team.

Smart Gilas: Reliability is key

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