COMMISSIONER Chito Salud is convinced Smart-Gilas would be better off if coach Rajko Toroman starts using the four pro players beefing up the team in the Champions Cup set to start in the country on May 28. Asi Taulava of Meralco, Kelly Williams and Jimmy Alapag of Talk N Text and Dondon Hontiveros of Air21 have been added to the team.
"I think it will be beneficial if he (Toroman) gets to see the four players early in a tournament like the Champions Cup," Salud said last Wednesday night. "That way, he’ll see if these players can help, if there is any change that has to be made, or (if) he needs to add one more (PBA player)."
Salud added the PBA players could be used by Toroman as early as the Champions Cup, giving them a chance to be fully incorporated into the team before the Nationals play in the FIBA-Asia Championship in Wuhan, China in September.
Toroman has said he wants the four pros to join the team in practice only on June 15, giving them exactly three months to get accustomed to his system.
Taulava and Williams played for Gilas in the last Asian Games while Alapag and Hontiveros are new to Toroman.
Salud pointed out the PBA Board is ready to lend a fifth player to Gilas if Toroman wants.
"(The) adjustment period is too short (for the Champions Cup). Probably not," said Toroman in a previous interview.
Salud pointed out the current PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals will be over by May 13, giving the four pros enough time to rest and then practice with the Nationals for the Champions Cup set at the PhilSports Arena.
Bong Pedralvez, Business Malaya Insight
