MANILA—Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman saw signs of improvement in Dubai two months after the national team failed to live up to expectations in the Guangzhou Asian Games.

The Nationals not only improved on their third-place finish last year but even had a chance to win the 22nd Dubai Invitational basketball tournament if not for the early ejection of naturalization candidate Marcus Douthit.

“The long break we had after the Asian Games affected us a bit but it was a very useful tournament for us,” said Serbian coach who arrived yesterday with the rest of the team. “We showed that we're getting better after the Asian Games.”
Smart Gilas takes a four-day break before resuming preparations on Friday for the import-spiked PBA Commissioner's Cup at the end of the month.

“The PBA will be a very big test for us,” said Toroman. “We'll start preparing on Friday. But first, we have to rest.”

The Nationals were hobbled by lack of chemistry and manpower woes last November's Asiad and ended up sixth, duplicating the country's worst finish in Bangkok in 1966.

Toroman admitted that team's mistake was bringing in PBA players Asi Taulava, Kelly Williams and Sol Mercado just a month before the Asian Games.

“We don't want to make the same mistake,” said Toroman. “Hopefully, we can have the PBA players for three months and join us in full-time training before the Fiba Asia.”

The winner of the Fiba Asia Championship, set in Wuhan, China, on Sept. 15 to 25, gains automatic entry in the 2012 London Olympics.

“The question is how many players can the PBA lend and how long can they be with us,” said Toroman. “We'll see how the PBA teams and players will react on our request.

Smart Glas manager Frankie Lim said the team got back on track after Dubai Stint.

“Last year, the team finished third,” he said. “Now, we finished second and a few breaks away from winning it all.

“What we need to do is find a way to sustain the form in time for the Asian championship.”

June Navarro, Phil. Daily Inquirer