Toroman: Chinese, coach grope for chemistry

FORMER Gilas Pilipinas head coach Rajko Toroman thinks China was a big letdown in its opening game in the 27th Fiba Asia Championship while South Korea was more lethal than expected.

“China was a big disappointment,” said the Serbian consultant of Barako Bull in the PBA after the Koreans pulled the rug from under the defending champion Chinese, 63-59, on Thursday night.

A tactical genius, Toroman said that China’s Greek coach Panagiotis Giannakis and his players were still groping for chemistry.

“He wants to play European basketball. I don’t know if these Chinese players are ready to do that,” said Toroman, who led the Philippines to a fourth-place finish in the tournament’s 2011 edition in Wuhan, China, the country’s best finish in 24 years.

Giannakis, said to be a perfectionist in ball movement and execution, steered the Greek national team to the silver medal in the 2006 Fiba World Championship in Saitama, Japan, won by Spain.

“He wants to control the offense and structure—everything, European-style,” said Toroman. “If they can make the adjustment before the end of the tournament, they will be a very tough team.”

As for the Koreans, Toroman said their stamina and vigor were decisive factors.

“South Korea showed amazing energy,” said Toroman, who brought the Iranians to the 2008 Beijing Olympics after they captured the 2007 Fiba Asia crown. “They were hustling, they were aggressive to the level that they wanted to play.

“I think it’s a big surprise that they beat China. But then again, China will not be as strong here as it was in 2011. They played in their homecourt and they had more confidence back then.”