Toroman: I want to remain on Gilas bench

Rajko Toroman was vocal enough to admit his desire to stay and coach the next batch of Smart Gilas-Pilipinas. The 52-year-old Serbian made known his intention to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Manny V. Pangilinan when the two met Thursday night to evaluate the three-year program he initiated. Gilas finished fourth in the recent FIBA-Asia Championship For Men. Toroman's contract with the national team expired Friday. "I told Mr. MVP that I want to continue the work," said the man responsible for steering Iran to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. But the soft-spoken mentor wouldn't know his fate until November 15 when returns from a five-week vacation in Serbia and holds another meeting with the SBP president. Toroman will return to Serbia next week "For the moment, everything is open. Until I comeback that's the only time they will give me a proposal," he said without elaborating The Serbian described the meeting with the SBP president as a "good one, where we exchanged thoughts, and expressed my feelings." "We talked about what we can do and what we can improve (with the team)," he said. Toroman added he discussed with Pangilinan what he referred to as "some issues" and how Gilas' second batch will be better prepared in future international tournaments. He also supported the Philippine Basketball Association's (PBA) proposal of reinforcing Gilas with professional players like what they did in Wuhan, China. "We can make a great team," said Toroman of the partnership with the pro league. Meralco's Asi Taulava and Talk 'N Text players Jimmy Alapag, Ranidel De Ocampo and Kelly Williams all donned the national colors in the FIBA-Asia joust. Rumors floated that Toroman is on his way out with assistant coach Chot Reyes being groomed to replace him after Gilas' missed opportunities of entering the finals and clinch third in the battle for the bronze. — JVP, GMA News