Smart-Gilas 5 brings hope for future

No matter how Powerade Team Pilipinas performs at the FIBA-Asia Championships in Tianjin on Aug. 6-16, SBP executive director Noli Eala said yesterday the hope of the future of Philippine basketball lies in the Smart-Gilas developmental program under Serbian coach Rajko Toroman’s direction.

Eala confirmed that Powerade is the last PBA selection to represent the country in international competitions as starting the Asian Games in Guangzhou next year, it will be Smart-Gilas wearing the national colors.

“Powerade is an SBP team and the SBP fully supports its campaign to qualify for the World Championships in Turkey next year,” said Eala. “But under the circumstances of the PBA, we realize how difficult it is to put together a national team made up of pros because of scheduling difficulties. It isn’t easy to give a PBA selection enough exposure to the international style because of limited games. The example is clear in the Jones Cup where everybody acknowledged that our players were the most individually skilled in the tournament but we could only win twice because of lack of exposure to team play. However, we’re hoping the experience in Taipei will go a long way in making us title contenders in Tianjin.”

Eala said Toroman’s involvement is key in tracking Smart-Gilas’ progress.

“We’re fortunate that coach Rajko has agreed to stay the course with us for at least three years,” he continued. “His participation is important. He knows the international game. He brought Iran to the Olympics last year as the Asian champion. I don’t think our developmental program could’ve taken off if not for coach Rajko.”

Starting yesterday, Toroman has called for thrice-a-week practice with the Smart-Gilas cagers who are not playing in the UAAP, NCAA, CESAFI or any other league. Those who are playing in other leagues will be called in for practice once a week.

Among the Smart-Gilas cagers are Chris Tiu, Mac Baracael, Greg Slaughter, Jason Ballesteros, Jayvee Casio, R. J. Jazul, Rey Guevara, Andy Barroca, Alrech Ramos, Ryan Buenafe and J. R. Cawaling. In Toroman’s wish list are Japeth Aguilar, Junmar Fajardo, Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Paul Lee. Fil-foreigners being recruited to reinforce the team include Chris Lutz of Marshall University (Video below) and Sean Anthony of McGill University who are both arriving to report for duty on Aug. 1.

Two foreigners will also be signed up as candidates for naturalization. One is 6-10, 240-pound C. J. Giles who played for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA preseason last October. Giles, 23, saw action for Kansas and Oregon State in the US NCAA. Eala said Toroman is reviewing the list of other candidates, including a 6-10 center who was Aguilar’s teammate at Western Kentucky and is his sister’s boyfriend.

Smart-Gilas will play in the coming PBA Philippine Cup as a guest entry.

“The Asian Games will be our initial barometer, our first test case,” said Eala. “It will show us where we are with respect to the other Asian powers. Our goal will be to make it to the semifinals.” Ultimately, Smart-Gilas’ objective is to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics via the FIBA-Asia Championships which Manila is bidding to host the year before.


Eala said a full plate is in front of Smart-Gilas as the direction is to expose the players to as much international competition as possible. In September, there is an invitation to play China, Korea, Japan and a US team in a tournament being organized by former FIBA president Dr. Carl Men Ky Ching in China. In December, the team will likely play at the prestigious Haarlem tournament in Holland. And in January, Smart-Gilas will see action in Dubai.

“Smart-Gilas is the clear and right solution to our problem of preparing a competitive team for international tournaments,” said Eala. “I think with coach Rajko, we are on track to put together a cohesive unit that can be a title contender in Asia.”