RAJKO TOROMAN, the Serbian head coach of a Smart Gilas-Pilipinas squad pressed with a gargantuan task of bringing the Philippines back to the Olympics, refuses to risk his naturalized American center, Marcus Douthit.
Douthit, Toroman repeatedly said, is at the center of his program, and for that program to succeed, he said, it should be anchored on big-man Douthit.
That is why for Toroman and his staff, it would be better if they passed off a stint in the Governors’ Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
“We don’t want any kind of serious injuries, especially on Marcus, because it can kill the program,” said Toroman. “That’s why we’re not joining the third conference to [give] rest to players.”
The six-foot-10 Douthit injured his right hand in their game against Meralco in the eliminations of the Commissioner’s Cup early this month. Gilas emerged as the No. 2 seed and advanced outright to the semifinals, where it awaits the winner of the quarterfinal-round duel between Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine.
Toroman said Douthit would still have to sit out their next few games in the Commissioner’s Cup.
“His right hand was checked [today] and it’s still broken. There’s a small chance he will play in the first two games,” the Serbian said. “We want Marcus to be healthy in the Fiba-Asia Championship.”
The Fiba-Asia Championship, set in September in Wuhan, China, would determine the continent’s lone representative to the London Olympics in 2012.
The team finished only sixth in the Asian Games in Guangzhou last year, but Toroman said with Douthit and perhaps at least two players from the PBA, Gilas would be more competitive.
On his shortened list of probable reinforcements from the PBA are Asi Taulava, Dondon Hontiveros and Jimmy Alapag.
“They are smart players and, with three months to prepare, I think we will be very competitive,” he said.
Toroman is hoping that by June 15, the four PBA players will be committed to train religiously with Gilas.
“We have to rest the players then start basic things and principles because it’s very different to prepare a team from a competition that runs only for 10 days and you have three months to do that,” said Toroman.
After their stint in the PBA, Gilas will prepare for the Fiba-Asia Champions Cup, which the country is hosting from May 28 to June 5 at the PhilSports Arena.
According to officials of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, club teams from Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Japan have confirmed their participation in the Champions Cup.
Toroman said the competition in the Cup would be tough because most of the club teams have multiple imports on their rosters.
Joel Orellana, Business Mirror
