Smart Gilas 5 to go all-Filipino in Asiad?

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Gilas Pilipinas may just end up playing all-Filipino in this year’s Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Noli Eala yesterday said Smart Gilas might play without a naturalized player in the Asiad after team officials decided to drop top prospect Jamal Sampson from the roster.

“Well, that’s very possible, it’s actually possible,” said Eala at weekly PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Ave. in Manila.

“But we will still try to see how we can get this big man come up and play immediately for the Asian Games, that’s why the choice had to be made with Jamal and now a new choice if we are to make a change,” Eala said.

He added that the injury-plagued Sampson proved to be a big disappointment during the team’s gulf trip in Doha, Qatar and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

“Seriously there is no one yet, that’s how serious we are on Jamal. We thought he was the one, fortunately the trip to Dubai proved that he’s not,” said Eala.

“We’ve asked again our scouts but I think this time maybe coach Rajko (Toroman) might help me look up some players, it might be better for coach Rajko to actually scout so that he can really have a first hand say who this guy would be,” Eala said.

With time running out for the team, Eala said that Toroman can go to the US or maybe in the other tournaments outside the US to look for prospects.

Toroman also voiced out his disappointment over Sampson, who sat out in some crucial Team RP games in the 21st Dubai Invitational where Smart Gilas finished a strong third.

“Everybody was very disappointed with Jamal Sampson. Jamal is a good player, he is excellent for our team, strong, tall, good rebounder, exactly what we need. But he was always injured,” said Toroman.

“I’m just talking about sacrificing for the team and how somebody can handle the pain because if you can’t handle the pain, you will never play in big games and can’t contribute in the team,” he said.

Meanwhile, Smart Gilas is scheduled to play in Australia against teams from the National Basketball League, before flying to Belgrade, Serbia in early April for another training then in the US and Canada from late April to early May to play some pick up games in Las Vegas and against collegiate teams plus a possibly pair of matches with Canadian national team in Vancouver.

From there, Smart Gilas will see action in the FIBA-Asia Champions Cup – the same tournament where it finished fifth in Jakarta, Indonesia last year – in Doha, then play some exhibition games with New Zealand, reigning Asian champion Iran and either Japan or Korea in Manila, the Jones Cup in Chinese Taipei in July and the FIBA-Asia Stankovic Cup in Beirut, Lebanon in August.

The team will fly again to the US to play NCAA Division I schools in October before competing in the Asian Games.

“It’s going to be a very hectic year, our estimate is that we will be playing about 80 international games this year and I think its more than what PBA teams get and really it’s a fantastic exposure for Smart Gilas,” said Eala.

“It was a positive experience and it’s a big boost for the morale of the team,” said skipper Chris Tiu. “I’ve realized our team have improved, we were able to adapt to the system of coach Rajko. It was tough in the beginning but we’ve learned to perfect it a little more now.”