MANILA—A dozen foreign games together and the Smart Gilas national team bolstered by PBA stars could seriously transform into a contender in the Fiba Asia Championship.
Coach Rajko Toroman yesterday said the mainstays of the team and the five players loaned by the pro league should play in full force for at least 10 international matches to reach peak form going to the 2012 London Olympics qualifier on Sept. 15 to 25 in Wuhan, China.
“Yes, I believe the team is now ready for the best teams in Asia,” said Toroman, referring to back-to-back defending Fiba Asia champion Iran, China, South Korea and Lebanon.
“But we have to play at least 10-12 international games with a complete lineup to reach our full potential.”
Toroman’s guarded optimism stemmed from the team’s performance against an NBA selection headed by five-time champion Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, back-to-back scoring king Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma Thunder and NBA MVP Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls on Sunday.
The Filipinos went down as expected, 89-98, but not without a fight opposite the best players in the planet.
Smart Gilas manager Frankie Lim and finance officer Butch Antonio have identified at least two foreign tournaments right after the Williams Jones Cup.
Antonio said they’re looking at Asian-caliber meets to be organized in Macau and Qatar three weeks before the Asian Championship. A pocket tournament in China against Chinese ballclubs is also being mulled.
Point guard Jimmy Alapag and power forwards Kelly Williams and Ranidel De Ocampo will rejoin the team after the William Jones Cup.