Philippines - Pros may beef up Smart Gilas for Asiad mission
Although it maintains a 15-player pool committed to play together in the lead-up to the Olympic-qualifying Fiba-Asia Championship in 2011, the RP Smart Gilas basketball team is open to accepting reinforcements, even from the pro ranks. According to coach Rajko Toroman, if need be, the squad composed of collegiate and amateur stars will welcome players from the Philippine Basketball Association particularly for this year’s Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
From www.gmanews.tv
Download source here
Although it maintains a 15-player pool committed to play together in the lead-up to the Olympic-qualifying Fiba-Asia Championship in 2011, the RP Smart Gilas basketball team is open to accepting reinforcements, even from the pro ranks.
According to coach Rajko Toroman, if need be, the squad composed of collegiate and amateur stars will welcome players from the Philippine Basketball Association particularly for this year’s Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
“We’re open for the PBA. It’s not just my national team or the SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) national team. It’s the national team of the Philippines," Toroman told GMANews.TV.
“Our doors are open for one or two PBA players who can fit in for the Asian Games," added Toroman, regarded as the man responsible for steering Iran to its first Asian crown in 2007 and a stint at the Beijing Olympics in 2008,
Asked to name the PBA players in his wish list of possible reinforcements, the Serbian mentor rattled off four former Powerade Pilipinas stalwarts in Gabe Norwood, Arwind Santos, Jared Dillinger and Kelly Williams.
The PBA used to have the responsibility of representing the country in Asian-level competitions such as the Asian Games and the Fiba-Asia tourney but the role has since gone to Smart Gilas, the pool tasked to bring the country back to the Olympics in 2012.
Led by team captain Chris Tiu, JV Casio, Andy Barroca, and UAAP MVPs Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Dylan Ababou, Smart Gilas is set to leave for the Middle East to play tune-ups in Doha and Kuwait and compete in a tough tournament in Dubai beginning this week as part of its buildup for the Asiad.
They will be reinforced by Jamal Sampson, nephew of former Houston Rockets superstar Ralph Sampson in the National Basketball Association, in the Middle East foray that Toroman described as a “challenge" for his young team.
By March, the Gilas squad will be joined in by Fil-Am Chris Lutz, a 6-4 shooting guard with US NCAA Division I school Marshall.