Champs Cup grind toughens up Gilas

MANILA, Philippines -  Smart Gilas-Pilipinas may have fallen short in its campaign in the recent 22nd FIBA-Asia Champions Cup, but the experience and training the team gained against the best club champions in the region should augur well for its coming campaign in the qualifier of the 2012 London Olympics.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Sonny Barrios bared before yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Ave. that the country need not fret about the fourth place finish of the team, stressing the tough competition provided for the nationals during the week-long tournament that came to an end Sunday definitely favored the high-profile squad as it primes up for a bigger battle ahead.

“They did a creditable performance,” said Barrios of Smart Gilas, which came a win short of advancing in the championship round, ambushed in the knockout semifinals by powerhouse Mahram of Iran, 77-80.

Failing to get over their disappointment in less than 24 hours, the nationals eventually lost to Qatar in the lone battle for the bronze, 64-71.

But Barrios added in the same forum presented by Smart, Pagcor, Outlast Battery and Shakey’s, “let’s not forget that the Champions Cup is a club championship. There were some people who said na mas mahirap pa nga ito kasi teams can have the services of two imports.”

Smart Gilas opted not to tap the services of imports, preferring to field the same roster it will have in the FIBA-Asia men’s championship this September bannered by 7-foot naturalized player Marcus Douthit and PBA stalwarts Asi Taulava and Dondon Hontiveros, but sans two other pros in Jimmy Alapag and Kelly Williams.

To be held in Wuhan, China, the FIBA-Asia meet serves as the qualifying tournament to the London Games.

The Champions Cup, according to Barrios, is just the first in a series of international competitions incorporated within the tight schedule of the nationals leading up to the Wuhan tournament from Sept. 15 to 25.

“The preparation is not over, this is just one phase,” said Barrios, a former PBA commissioner.

Up next for Smart Gilas is the Southeast Asia Basketball Association (SEABA) men’s championship at the end of the month, where the top three teams get to represent the region in the FIBA-Asia championship.

The team of coach Rajko Toroman is also set to see action in Portugal, Turkey, and Taipei for the annual Jones Cup.

“And then before the FIBA-Asia championship, they’re also looking at two to three pocket tournaments in China,” added the SBP official.