Manila, Philippines - This was the chance that coach Rajko Toroman and his Smart Gilas Pilipinas think they have when they take on a star-studded NBA cast in the second of a two-game dream series of the Smart Ultimate All-Star Weekend before another mammoth crowd at the Araneta Coliseum today.
“We’re very serious and we’re going to play much better and give them a hard time because some of these guys are from another planet,” said Toroman, who graced the press conference before proceeding to his Nationals’ practice session at the Meralco Gym in preparation for the 1 p.m. game.
“These guys can make adjustment in an hour and I don’t think they will be serious in this game.
“If you’re going to ask me though of our chance of beating them, I say we have a 10-percent chance of beating them,” he added.
Toroman stressed the NBA selection, which will be coached by five-time champion Kobe Bryant himself, has all the advantage and that the implementation of the FIBA rules will also not matter.
“We’re using FIBA rules but I don’t think we have an advantage. Maybe if we use the PBA referees we’ll have the advantage in the game,” Toroman said.
Aside from Kobe, the stars that descended on Manila are two-time scoring champion Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma Thunder, reigning MVP Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, former Rookie of the Year Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets, former ROY Tyreke Evans of the Sacramento Kings, slam dunk artist JaVale McGee of the Washington Wizards, James Harden of the Thunder and Derrick Williams of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Nationals though will play without Ranidel de Ocampo, who broke his nose in a Talk N’ Text practice three days ago, although he agreed to sit on the bench to support the team that he hopes to help in the FIBA-Asia Championship slated Sept. 15-25 in Wuhan, China where a slot to the 2012 London Olympics is at stake.
While de Ocampo sits, his teammates Kelly Williams and Jimmy Alapag will get to play and reinforce Smart Gilas along with Meralco’s Asi Taulava and Air21’s Dondon Hontiveros, who will be the only pros who will join the Nationals in the William Jones Cup set Aug. 6-14 in Chinese Taipei.