Coach bats for longer Smart Gilas program

JAKARTA, Indonesia —Rajko Toroman believes the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas should do well to extend Smart Gilas Pilipinas’ original three-year program.

The Smart Gilas head coach stressed on Sunday the need to sustain the program originally geared to bring the national team back to the Olympics next year in London.

“We should extend the program,” said Toroman, who joined Smart Gilas after steering an Iranian team that has been together for so long to the 2007 Asian championship and a stint in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“I would be glad to coach if ever they decide to continue the program,” added Toroman in an interview before the Nationals’ gold-medal match against host Indonesia in the 9th Southeast Asian Basketball Association Championship on Sunday night at the BritAma Arena.

Clobbered by the Nationals, 94-54, in the eliminations Friday, the Indonesians clinched the second title slot by trouncing Malaysia, 77-47, late Saturday night.

Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines have already earned slots to the Asian Championship set in Wuhan, China this September. The Asian champion gets the lone Olympic slot from the region in the London Games next year.

New Iran head coach Veselin Matic had said in a recent interview that keeping the core of veteran players has been the key to Iran’s success in the Fiba Asia.

He added that the Iranians were basically the same team that copped the bronze in the 2006 Doha Asian Games and captured back-to-back Fiba Asia Championship crowns in 2007 and 2009.

With the possibility that some Gilas mainstays may join the PBA rookie draft in August, Toroman said the collegiate squad going to this year’s Southeast Asian Games here should form the core of the next PH squad along with the holdovers from the current team.

“It should be a combination of the best players from the team which will play in the SEA Games and some members of the old Smart Gilas team,” said Toroman.

A crack squad composed of UAAP and NCAA stars is being formed by coach Norman Black to compete in the SEA Games on Nov. 11-25.

Team captain Chris Tiu said he would stay if the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas kept the Smart Gilas program beyond 2012 along with holdovers Aldrech Ramos, seven-footer Greg Slaughter and naturalized center Marcus Douthit.

“I love playing for the national team. If you ask me, I want the program to continue,” said Tiu, who remained non-committal in the coming PBA freshman lottery.

After the Olympics, the PH five has to prepare for the 2013 Fiba Asia Championship, which offers three seats to the 2014 Fiba World Championship.

It’s the world cup of basketball and we haven’t been there for a long time,” said Tiu, who also offered his services to the SEAG-bound PH five.