World-Class Caging Seen as RP Invitational Gets Underway

(From GMA News)

Three Olympic coaches, two local mentors with international experience and some of the finest professional and amateur players all in one pocket tournament.

This is definitely a treat to all basketball-loving Filipinos.

Five teams will take center stage beginning Thursday as the Smart Philippine Invitational Challenge gets underway at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Our very own Smart-Gilas national developmental pool, crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra, powerhouse Philippine Basketball Association team Talk N Text, FIBA World Championship-bound Jordan national team and Chinese club team Dongguan will take part in this event.

Toroman, who led Iran to its first FIBA Asia Championship in 2007 and its first Olympic stint two years ago, has been tasked to lead the amateur-laden Philippine national team aspirants back to the Olympic Games for the first time since 1972.

As impressive -- if not more impressive -- as Toroman’s credentials are the coaching resume of Mario Palma and Brian Goorjian.

Palma, a Portugese coach who led Angola to three straight FIBA Africa crown, will call the shots for a Jordan squad that booked a berth to the World Basketball Championship in Turkey next year.

Goorjian is regarded as the most successful coach in Australian basketball history, having spearheaded the team to two Olympic stints – 2004 in Athens and 2008 in Beijing.

He was a six-time Australian NBL Coach of the Year while winning six league championships and 13 finals appearances.

The two foreign coaches have high respect for Filipino players.

"The Philippines can be great in the world, but for what I see, if they play for spectators and not play to win games, it will be very difficult. But I think coach Rajko is going to change that," said Palma.

Goorjian is no stranger to Pinoy basketball either. He has faced RP squads beefed up by all-pro players, but the Smart-Gilas team remains a mystery to him.

"I haven't seen this Philippine team. The teams we played against before (when I was coached the Sydney Kings) were tough and I think this batch will be very competitive with this lineup," he said.

Former national team coaches Chot Reyes of Talk N Text and Jong Uichico of Ginebra had a taste of international basketball.

Reyes was coach of the RP five to the 2007 FIBA Asia while Uichico, a member of the 1984 Northern Consolidated team that won the FIBA Asia Chmapions Cup title in Ipoh, Malaysia, was mentor of the RP quintet in the 2002 Busan Asian Games.

They will use this pocket tournament to fine tune their respective squads in the ongoing PBA Fiesta Cup where they have strong chances of making it all the way.

The Tropang Texters and the Gin Kings will play no bearing games in the pocket tournament, but that doesn't mean they will become laid carpets against either the visitors or the Smart-Gilas squad.

"We're going to treat this scrimmage seriously and toughen the team up for the semifinals and hopefully the finals," said Talk N Text team manager Virgil Villavicencio.

Lim, Uichico’s former teammate and now Ginebra team manager, said the players will be having a hard time adjusting to the FIBA rules.

"It's going to be tough for us adjusting to the FIBA rules but we will try to give our opponents a good competition," said Lim.

Ginebra takes on Jordan in the first game at 4:30 p.m.

A brief opening ceremonies will follow next before Smart Gilas tackles Dongguan in the main game at 7 p.m.

Games will be shown on a delayed basis on QTV Channel 11 from June 26 to 29 from 2 to 5 p.m.

Gilas Coach Hopes PBA Board Loans Williams

(From GMA News)

If Smart-Gilas coach Rajko Toroman will have his way, he would like to have former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) most valuable player (MVP) Kelly Williams joining his squad for the Guangzhou Asian Games.

"Yes, we want to include him (Williams) to the Asian Games, but it will depend also on the PBA," said Toroman in a text message sent to GMANews.TV.

Toroman, the man responsible for steering Iran to the FIBA Asia Championship crown in 2007 that enabled the country to earn an Olympic berth in Beijing, was vocal about Williams’ inclusion.

Perhaps, the first step towards Williams joining Smart-Gilas had already been achieved after Talk ‘N Text acquired him and Ryan Reyes in a three-team, nine-player trade.

Like Smart-Gilas, Talk ‘N Text is one among the few teams being bankrolled by businessman/sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan.

But Toroman still needs the PBA board’s approval in loaning Williams to the Gilas developmental squad, which is a non-PBA member.

Williams will definitely not be included in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup set to begin next week in Doha, Qatar.

Talented Filipino-American guard Chris Lutz, however, will join the team in Doha after the Marshall University standout arrived Tuesday from the United States. He is expected to take the place of Marcio Lassiter, who suffered a slight tear on his right knee.

"Maybe Lutz can replace him, but we will see," said Toroman.

Lutz, a 24-year-old combo guard, was the all-time leading scorer while playing for Trinity High School before going to the Thundering Herd. The 6-foot-3 Lutz averaged 8.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists while playing for the US NCAA Division I team.

He once worked out for the national developmental team and quickly impressed everyone, including Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes.

“I had the opportunity of seeing (Lutz) play here. Smart-Gilas was playing tune up games against us and I was impressed with his versatility. He can shoot, can slash and plays with a lot of energy," said Reyes.

Lutz will definitely be a welcome addition to the Gilas squad battered with injuries. Team captain Christ Tiu is playing with an injury along with Mark Baracael, JR Cawaling and guard JV Casio, who was named the best playmaker in a Dubai meet but is now rehabilitating from an ACL injury.

"Not so nice for the team right now because we have a lot of injuries," said Toroman. "We have a lot of work to do in the Champions Cup because all teams go to Doha to win."

Greg Slaughter was supposed to be more of a project player for the national team aspirants, but he had shown tremendous improvement under Toroman’s guidance.

"He’s getting better and better," said Toroman on the 6-foot-11 pride of University of Visayas, who will suit up for the Ateneo Eagles in next year’s UAAP wars.

Serbian import Milan Vucicevic, according to Toroman, had slowly got himself accustomed with the Philippines’ hot and humid conditions as well as with his teammates.

Vucicevic had various stints in basketball leagues in Cyprus, Oman, Ukraine, Greece and Poland. He is described by Toroman as a "good player, with a good attitude."

"If he could help enough the team, we’ll make a deal with him after Doha. It’s all up to him," said Toroman of the Serbian import.