Serbian coach sees problems for RP 5 in quarters

Rajko Toroman, the man who steered Iran into the championship of the 2007 FIBA Asia title, expressed belief Powerade-Team Pilipinas is capable of making the quarterfinals of the 25th FIBA-Asia men's basketball championship.

Come the quarterfinals, it’s going to be another story.


“How far the team will go depends on the match up in the quarterfinals," said Toroman, the Serbian national now serving as project director of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and head coach of the Smart Gilas Pilipinas team.

Toroman is expected to arrive in Tianjin, China Wednesday along with SBP executive director Noli Eala in time for the FIBA Asia meet.

After a six-hour travel, including a brief stay in Beijing, the Nationals finally arrived in the Chinese city, the sixth largest in terms of urban population, late Tuesday afternoon.

They are set to open their campaign against Sri Lanka Thursday morning (9AM) at the Tianjin gym, followed by Japan on Friday (9PM), before capping their Group A assignment against Korea on Saturday (9PM).

Toroman, who watched Japan, Korea and the rest of the field play in the recent 31st William Jones Cup in Taipei, stressed that the Japanese and Koreans are formidable opponents.

“Both teams (Japan and Korea) are strong. But I think the Philippines will qualify for the quarterfinals," he said.

In the event Powerade-RP finishes in the top three of Group A, it advances into the next phase of the preliminaries and play the top three teams in Group B, which is composed of defending champion Iran, Uzbekistan, Chinese-Taipei and Kuwait.

Toroman said he doesn’t see the Nationals beating the Iranians and expressed his concern against the Uzbeks.

“We also can’t discount Uzbekistan, which has several tall players," said Toroman, pointing out to 7-foot-1 Sergey Karaulov, 7-footer Dmitry Sviridov and 6-foot-7 Grigori Shukhovtsov.

Toroman warned, “Uzbekistan might be able to pull off an upset against any of the top teams in Group A."

Nonetheless, he expressed confidence coach Yeng Guiao and his team would end up either in the second, third or fourth spot in Groups A and B - a scenario that could mean a face-off with powerhouse teams China, Jordan or Lebanon.

For winning the 24th edition of the FIBA-Asia meet, Toroman and the Iranians, bannered by 7-foot-2 Memphis Grizzlies stalwart Hamed Ehadadi, earned a trip to the Beijing Olympics, but failed to register a win.

After the Beijing Games, Toroman left Iran and accepted the offer SBP tendered to him.

He had since been replaced by fellow Serbian Veselin Matic as head coach of Iran.