MANILA, Philippines — Smart-Gilas Serbian head coach Rajko Toroman said the four PBA players tapped to reinforce the team need at least 20 international games to familiarize with his system and their new teammates. Tabbed to join Smart-Gilas for the FIBA-Asia Championship in Wuhan, China are Jimmy Alapag and Kelly Williams of Talk ’N Text, Dondon Hontiveros of Air21 and Asi Taulava of Meralco.
Since the event will not happen until Sept. 15, Toroman believes the four PBA players have plenty of time to prepare with the team which is hoping to clinch a berth for next year’s London Games.
“We have three months for the preparation. We need at least 20 games, that’ll be enough" Toroman said.
The Wuhan event is the qualifying meet for the 2012 London Olympics.
According to Toroman, he prefers the four PBA players to start training with the Nationals on June 15, exactly three months before the tournament.
Smart-Gilas has already scheduled some international competitions in the three-month training.
In July, the national team will train in Portugal in a tournament to be organized by former Jordan head coach Mario Palma, and then compete in Taipei in August for the Jones Cup.
At least five games are also being arranged in China in early September.
“He (Palma) knows exactly what team we have, so we’ll go to Portugal.
Three months is enough, by that time we played a lot of games,” Toroman said.
The 6-foot-9 Taulava and the 6-foot-7 Williams actually need little adjustments to the plays of Toroman having played for Smart-Gilas in last year’s Asian Games in Guangzhou, China that finished sixth.
Hontiveros and Alapag have suited up to previous national team so Toroman believes they are familiar with international play.
Waylon Galvez, Manila Bulletin
