Toroman upbeat on PHL cagers' chances in Asiad

GUANGZHOU -- Smart Gilas national developmental team coach Rajko Toroman is confident his team can advance to the main draw of the men’s basketball competition of the 16th Asian Games at Guangti gymnasium here. "We're doing good," said Toroman after the team held private practice near the East Railway Station here. "The players are doing good except for Japeth, who still has a knee injury." The Philippines opens its campaign against Kuwait at 7:15 p.m. Saturday with the winner advancing to Group F. The group has a strong cast that includes two-time and reigning FIBA Asia champion Iran, Qatar, Japan, Chinese Taipei, and the winner between Afghanistan and India. The national developmental squad played a pair of tune-up games a few days after arriving here. The team bowed to the Guangdong Tigers, a three-time champion in the Chinese Basketball Association, 73-85. The Chinese club team was backstopped by former Indiana Pacers shooting guard Fred Jones. But the Filipino cagers bounced back in their second exhibition game, and beat the Dongguan Leopards, 79-65. The team played with a complete line-up against the Leopards, with the PBA stars leading the way to victory. Kelly Williams, who played for the all-pro national team in the 2007 FIBA Asia Championship, finished with 18 points and nine boards. Asi Taulava, who will be playing in his second Asian Games after suiting up in the 2002 edition in Busan, South Korea, finished with 15 points and the same number of rebounds. Solomon Mercado, who sat out the game against the Tigers, played 20 minutes and did pretty well despite a sprained left ankle. "Sol is doing good, but we hope Japeth can also play on Sunday," said Toroman, who was responsible in leading Iran to its first Olympics appearance in 2008 in Beijing, China after leading the squad in winning the 2007 FIBA Asia crown. Should the Filipinos hurdle the Kuwaitis, they will face the Iranians bolstered by NBA slotman Hamed Haddadi on Nov. 16, the Qataris the following day, the Japanese on Nov. 19 and the winner between India and Afghanistan on Nov. 21. Only the top four teams in each group will advance to the crossover knockout quarterfinal stage. Last Thursday, UAAP MVP Dylan Ababou and FEU standout Aldrech Ramos were relegated to the reserve list by the coaching staff after the managers' meeting. Other members of the squad are team captain Chris Tiu, Mark Barroca, JV Casio, Mac Baracael, Greg Slaughter, Jason Ballesteros, Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter. - KY, RCJ, GMANews.TV