source: Joey Villar | philstar.com
UPDATE: Smart Gilas PHL def. Taiwan NT, 90-78 [VIDEO]
Smart Gilas Pilipinas will continue its chase not just of an Olympic berth in London next year but also of a spot in the 2014 FIBA World Championship.
Smart Gilas team manager Frankie Lim said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan recently told the Nationals that the stakeholders funding the team have agreed to extend the program for a couple of more years.
“We were told Smart Gilas will be extended for another two years without specific details,” said Lim.
The lack of details means Serbian coach Rajko Toroman’s future with the Nationals is uncertain although his stay could hinge on how they will fare in the FIBA Asia Championship slated Sept. 15-25 in Wuhan, China where the winner represents the region in London.
It could also mean that there would be changes in the composition of the team since its current members aren’t barred from applying for the coming PBA rookie draft.
“It would be good for Philippine basketball because the program is already in place. It is a shame if it would be put to waste,” said Toroman, whose team is currently in Chinese Taipei seeing action in the Jones Cup that started yesterday.
Toroman explained there are more talented players available now including naturalized 6-10 center Marcus Douthit and some PBA reinforcements.
“The team could be formed with the combination of old Smart Gilas players and some new ones from the collegiate level plus Marcus (Douthit) and some PBA players,” said Toroman.
“I’m really happy for Smart Gilas because I know we have the potential to make it big, with or without me,” he added.
The door to the FIBA World is a bit wider for Asian teams. The 2013 FIBA Asia Championship stakes three spots to that elite tournament.
“In Wuhan, Asia is given just one berth to the Olympics but in 2013, three slots will be given to Asia so we have a stronger chance to make a good run at it,” said Toroman.
Douthit, a naturalized player who has given Smart Gilas some inside lift, is expected to be at the forefront of the Nationals’ FIBA Worlds campaign as the 6-10 big man is expected to provide the muscle and heft the Phl traditionally lacks.
Smart Gilas is also expected to re-absorb seven-footer Greg Slaughter and 6-6 Aldrech Ramos, who are currently playing for Ateneo and Far Eastern U, respectively, in the ongoing UAAP cage wars.
There are other talented young collegiate players like Bobby Ray Parks of National U and Kiefer Ravena of Ateneo.
Of course, there are the pros.
“It’s a big talented pool of players to choose from so the future looks bright for Smart Gilas,” said Toroman.
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MArami ngang pag pipili an p ro ang question is willing ba ang mother club ipahiram cla . like Alaska napaka damot mag pahiram ng players!!
Pinoys are happy for what Mr.MVP, SBP and local stakeholders, have done. This type of patriotism should never go unnoticed, salamat po sa lahat na suporta na iyong ipinakita. To Mr. Toroman, i hope you stay cause i can see that the team has progressed a lot since u handle the team and we have faith in u..Go Gilas, make us proud, win or lose, give ur heart out.
It looks like the plan is to replace the existing Gilas PBA reinforcements with Ravena, Parks, Ramos and Sluagthers, by that time Lutz, Lassiter will in the PBA and be the PBA reinforcments. This program will always have a solid pool of players to choose from ( college, PBA and past and current gilas players)
Nice a very welcome news for Philippine Basketball
I remember when Noli Eala asked Coach Rajko Toroman if he can coach the Philippines.He said Coach Rajko's eyes beamed with excitement when asked if he was vacant.Mr. Toroman loves and believes in the Filipinos!Please extend his contract as well.If Norman Black and Tim Cone have jobs here,why not also for Toroman who's respected GLOBALLY?In fact,we should also naturalize him if he wishes to.
Go go go Smart Gilas! We will support you all the way! :)
Calling MVP, Sana wag pong pakawalan si coach Rajko Toroman, ang laki po ng improvement ng Phil. National Team simula nung sya ang humawak, kitang kita po ang ebidensya.
It would be "noble" for the Gilas players who applied for the draft to postpone/ their PBA dreams for 2 or 3 more years.Naiintindihan ko yung mga nagapply sa draft kamakailan kc cguro hndi sila cgurado sa future nila dhil mageexpire na kontrata nila sa Smart Gilas.Pero dhil ayan,inextend na yung program,sana nman magbackout na kayo sa draft.ksi sayang ung 3 yrs niyong pagsasama.Malapit niyo ng ma-reach PEAK niyo kayo na maghahari sa Asia kung hndi kyo magdidisband.Magbackout na kayo sa draft for the sake of a higher purpose which is REDEMPTION for Philippine basketball.
IT WOULD BE A BIG MISTAKE IF MVP LET GO OF RAJKO,,,THE SYSTEM IS IN PLACE WHY RUIN IT,,,THIS WAS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF PBA BEFORE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE TALENT THEN, REMEMBER BUSAN GAMES, BUT WITHOUT A SYSTEM, IF PBA COULD HAVE CONTINUED THAT LINE-UP WITH A SOLID SYSTEM,,WE COULD HAVE REGAINED THE PAST GLORY IN BASKETBALL,,,SMART GILAS IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK WITH THE RIGHT SYSTEM AND THE RIGHT COACH,,,,,,,,ONLY NEEDS UPGRADING WITH ASSISTANT COACHES AND MORE SCOUTING........
BTW,,,,DOUTHIT SHOULD HOLD HIS TEMPER IN INTERNATIONAL GAMES, ONE FALLS MOVE IN WUHAN AND WE'RE DONE,,,IT HAPPEND IN DUBAI BEFORE,,,WE COULD HAVE BEEN CHAMPIONS OF DUBAI INVITATIONAL IF NOT FOR HIS FLARE UPS...L.A LAKERS KNOW THAT,,,ASK KOBE
Toroman is the second coming of Ron Jacobs. They should keep him
Thanks to MVP,SBP, Toroman, Smart-Gilas Players all the staffs and all the stakeholders! Thanks for bringing joy to Philippines! Please continue this program, we will support you no matter what is the outcome!
jasper // August 8, 2011 8:42 AM
Toroman is the second coming of Ron Jacobs. They should keep him
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pre wag mong sbhin second coming ni ron jacobs si toroman.. mga2lit MVP dhil nging coach yn ng San Miguel.. alm nyo nman n allergic xa s San Miguel..