HSINCHUANG CITY – Smart Gilas Pilipinas, finishing fourth in the just concluded Jones Cup, was to return to Manila yesterday aware they still have a lot of work to do to achieve its goal of making the Final Four in the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China in November.
Being considered as a shortcut to make the team competitive for the Asiad is reinforcement of three players from the PBA.
High on the list are forward Kelly Williams, guard Ryan Reyes and either Asi Taulava or Sonny Thoss if Marcus Douthit doesn’t get the naturalization papers in time for the November joust.
“(Fourth place) is not so good a result but neither it’s bad. I think we’re close to everybody. Little more pieces and we can get better result,” said Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman.
“I’m satisfied with what we showed against Iran and Lebanon. It showed that they’re not so far from us. They’re more experienced and so they’re tougher. But in time, we’ll progress,” Toroman added.
The Serbian mentor is confident Smart Gilas would be a lot better if Williams and Reyes are loaned to them by the PBA.
He said Williams would give them added ceiling, allowing Mac Baracael to slide to small forward position while Reyes could be their stabilizer at guard spot.
At 6-foot-3, Baracael is the team’s starting big forward, matching up against players 6-foot-6 or above.
The team is still hoping Douthit’s naturalization paper is processed before November. If not, Toroman said they would also request the PBA to loan them either Thoss or Taulava.
“Rabah (Al-Husseini) is joining the PBA draft while Jason (Ballesteros) is not big enough for the Asian Games. He’s more for the No. 4 position,” said Toroman.
“Marcus is good but we need something more from him, specially on energy and enthusiasm. He understands basketball. He’s a good rebounder. But we saw that he’s not in good shape,” Toroman also said.
The RP training team is next scheduled to compete in the Stankovic Cup in Beirut next month.
The trip, however, is now in the balance with the schedule of the competition in conflict with most of the players’ studies.
“Rabah, Greg (Slaughter) and Mark Barroca have to attend their studies while Douthit is not allowed to play in that tourney. We’ll just be clobbered in that competition and the morale might be affected,” said team captain Chris Tiu.