Chinese still adjusting with Greek coach

MANILA, Philippines - Rajko Toroman can easily spot the difference between the Chinese team that won the FIBA-Asia crown in 2011 and the one vying for this year’s title.

“I think there’s still adjustment between the coach and the players,” said Toroman, former head coach of Smart Gilas Pilipinas at the Mall of Asia Arena.

China is under a new coach in Panagiotis Giannakis who took over former Houston Rockets assistant coach Bob Donwald only this year.

Giannakis, nicknamed “The Dragon,” is far from ordinary. He is a former professional player in Greece but made a bigger name as coach of its national team.

In the 2006 World Championship in Saitama, Japan, he steered Greece to a stunning win over the United States team led by LeBron James, Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony.

Greece won the silver medal in Saitama behind Spain.

Giannakis is now a legend in Greece. But success with the Chinese team will not happen overnight.

South Korea delivered the opening-day news in this FIBA-Asia Championship by beating China the other night, 63-59. 

It did not come as a surprise to Toroman.

“China was a big disappointment because everybody was expecting of them,” said Toroman who didn’t have to look at the stats sheet to say why.

“Giannakis is famous in Europe. He was with the Greek national team that won a silver medal in the world championship but I think there’s still no chemistry.

“He wants to play controlled basketball – European basketball. I don’t know if these Chinese players are ready to do that. He wants to control the offense, everything, the structure,” said Toroman.

But he said there’s no doubt that Giannakis can turn the Chinese into a better team once they find the right chemistry.

It may or may not happen here.

“As I said, China is not as strong as the last time. But if they make the adjustments until the end of the tournament they will be a very tough team,” said Toroman.

That’s for Giannakis to find out.