PBA commissioner to Nationals: Prove you deserve to don PHL colors

While their brief stint in the Philippine Basketball Association the last time out hardly impressed anyone, the Pilipinas-Smart Gilas squad is now ready to turn critics to believers with its participation in the coming Commissioner’s Cup. Two years of continued battles overseas have obviously toughened up the Nationals.. Serbian coach Rajko Toroman said competitive games in Australia, Serbia, United States, Lebanon and Qatar had provided his squad the experience it needs. He is convinced the Nationals can stand up against the PBA pros this time. “They learned a lot the last two years. I really think so and it’s time to show them," proclaimed Toroman, who guaranteed that his young team of former collegiate standouts will be a force to reckon with in the import-laced Commissioner’s Cup. The PBA granted the request of Samahang Basketball Pilipinas to accommodate the Nationals as a guest team in preparation for the FIBA Asia Championship, the qualifying tournament for the 2012 London Olympics. With a strong field to contend with, Toroman said the Nationals need to develop mental and defensive toughness to be competitive in the Sept. 15-25 tournament to be held in China. Certainly, the Serbian coach knows best. Four years ago he coached Iran’s national team to victory in the FIBA Asia Championship that earned the country a spot in the 2008 Beijing Olympics Toroman said the PBA is the perfect playground where the Nationals could sharpen their skills. “I think they [Nationals] have to compete with PBA players because I think they can get some toughness that the PBA can give them, and this is the most important thing," he said. For added motivation, PBA commissioner Atty. Chito Salud challenged the Nationals to prove they deserve to don the national colors during an orientation held last Thursday at the PBA headquarters. “It’s a big challenge for them. They have to show they are competitive. They have to show they deserve to play for Smart Gilas," Toroman said of the challenge. He said their participation in the PBA brings some gratification for him, because he feels Pilipinas-Smart Gilas can give something back to the league in terms of excitement, good players and good basketball. “I think for both [PBA and Smart-Gilas Pilipinas], it’s a win-win situation," Toroman said. Toroman readily admitted that it would be tough to play PBA teams, specifically the likes of Talk N’ Text, San Miguel Beer, Ginebra, Alaska and B-Meg Derby Ace. But he also qualified that the potentials of those teams depend on the imports they will choose. “The imports will make a difference. Remember Diamon Simpson? He made the difference for Alaska last season," Toroman noted. Many observers as well as coaches believe Smart Gilas Pilipinas will figure prominently in the conference and possibly match the feat by the Northern Cement Consolidated-sponsored Philippine Team, which bagged the 1985 Reinforced Conference championship as a guest team. That team coached by American Ron Jacobs and beefed up by naturalized players Dennis Still and Jeff Moore swept Manila Beer in four games for the title. Smart-Gilas Pilipinas doesn’t necessarily enjoy that kind of advantage, but observers claim the Nationals could be tough to beat with a 6-foot-10 Marcus Douthit beefing up the squad. Toroman doesn’t think so. While he believes Douthit will make an impact, Toroman emphasized that Douthit will not be as dominating as the imports. “At the end of the day, he will not be the first rebounder and not the first scorer. He will not be like what some of the coaches are thinking. He will be a big impact but not the way they are talking about," the Serbian coach said of Douthit. And while he considered Douthit’s size an advantage, Toroman emphasized his troops don’t have the years of experience enjoyed by the likes of Asi Taulava and Jimmy Alapag. In last year’s Philippine Cup, Smart-Gilas Pilipinas played 10 games in the elimination round and won against Air 21, SMB and Rain or Shine. The results of their games, however, were not reflected in the standings. Toroman maintains the team under his disposal has improved compared from the one he had last year. “I hope we can reach the playoffs," Toroman said. “I strongly believe this team is a very good team. It learned a lot over the last two years." - KY, RCJ, GMA News