Toroman: Gilas five ready for PBA wars

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Gilas Pilipinas coach Rajko Toroman believes the Nationals are ready for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, saying two years of sustained training abroad are enough to pit them against the country’s leading pros.

“They learned a lot the last two years. I really think so and it’s time to show them,” said Toroman, who guaranteed his young team of former collegiate standouts will be a force to reckon with in the import-laced tournament firing off in Laoag this Friday.

The PBA granted the request of the Samahang Basketbol the Pilipinas to accommodate the Nationals as a guest team as it gears up for the FIBA Asia Championship which serves as qualifying tournament for the 2012 London Olympics.

With a strong field to contend with, Toroman said the Nationals need to develop mental and defensive toughness to be competitive in the Sept. 15-25 tournament slated in China.

The Serbian coach surely knows what does it takes to earn a spot in the Olympics. Four years ago, he coached Iran’s national team to victory in the FIBA Asia Championship that earned the Iranians a berth in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Toroman said the PBA is the perfect training ground where the Nationals could sharpen their skills.

“They (Nationals) have to compete with PBA players because I think they can get some toughness that PBA can give them and this is the most important thing,” said Toroman whose wards played competitive games in Australia, Serbia, United States, Lebanon and Qatar.

PBA commissioner Chito Salud even challenged the Nationals to prove they deserve to don the national colors during an orientation last Thursday at the PBA headquarters.

“It’s a big challenge for them. They have to show they are competitive. That they deserve to play for Smart Gilas,” Toroman said of the challenge.

He said their participation in the PBA brings some excitement for him because he feels Smart-Gilas Pilipinas can give something back to the league in terms of excitement, good players and good basketballI.

“I think it’s a win-win situation for both (PBA and Smart-Gilas Pilipinas),” Toroman said.

He, however, admitted that it’s tough to play PBA teams, specifically against the likes of Talk n Text, San Miguel Beer, Ginebra, Alaska and B-Meg Derby Ace.