MANILA—Coach Rajko Toroman knows that one of the things essential to winning international games is advance scouting.
So far, Smart Gilas Pilipinas has been doing it with tremendous results in the PBA Commissioner's Cup.
The national team aims to stretch its unbeaten run to six when it faces inconsistent B-Meg Derby Ace at the Araneta Coliseumtoday.
Three of those five victories came from playoff-contenders Talk ‘N Text, Alaska and Rain Or Shine. Powerhouse San Miguel Beer and Air 21, which figured in an eye-popping mid-conference trade, round off the loist of the Nationals’ victims.
And adding the Llamados to the growing list of Smart Gilas victims won’t be that much of a surprise, considering that Toroman has scouted Derby Ace as well as he had done with his team’s five previous opponents.
"They have talented and skilled outside players and very strong inside players,” Toroman said of the Llamados. “Maybe they will be under pressure because they have to win.”
Toroman was seen behind B-Meg's bench when the Meralco Bolts broke out of a slump with an 89-86 decision over the Llamados.
The Bolts (1-4) face Powerade in the other match where the Tigers will be eyeing a third win in seven games to keep them in the hunt for a playoff spot.
“On the other side, we are already in the playoffs and we can play our game without any pressure. But we will do everything to win," added the Serbian coach.
At 6-foot-4, B-Meg's Shamari Spears will find it rough fighting for space against the 6-foot-10 Marcus Douthit, an intimidating presence in the paint the past five games.
With Douthit patrolling the lanes, the Nationals defeated the Elasto Painters, 99-94, in a game that also flaunted Smart Gilas’ outside sniping.
JV Casio went 5 of 7 from the three-point area while gunner Chris Tiu added 22. Douthit finished with 23 points and 18 rebounds.
Meralco’s win over B-Meg snapped the Bolts out of a four-game slide while the Tigers ended three successive setbacks at the Beermen’s expense.
“Our come-from-behind win versus B-Meg gave us an emotional lift and more importantly an open window to make it to the playoffs via the back door,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio.
The Bolts have to keep Gary David, who averaged 35.5 points the past two games, in check.
Chamberlain Oguchi will surely be a marked man, prompting Gregorio to ask for more from Mark Cardona and Sol Mercado.
June Navarro, Phil. Daily Inquirer
