Gilas tunes up for elite foes, faces Taiwanese

TAIPEI – Smart Gilas Team Pilipinas faces the Taiwan University All Stars to start its campaign in the 2010 William Jones Cup today, hoping to build momentum for its tough outing against back-to-back Fiba Asia champion Iran tomorrow.

Smart Gilas plays the local team at 3 p.m., the opening game of the weeklong event where the Nationals are looking to test their mettle against fellow Asian Games-bound teams like Iran, Lebanon, Chinese Taipei and Japan.

It doesn’t mean, though, that the Nationals are taking the TU All Stars lightly.

“It’s a game we have to win to prepare us for the tougher games,” said coach RajkoToroman, a mere observer as the Yeng Guiao-mentored Powerade RP Team competed and finished sixth in this invitational tourney last year.

“It’s difficult to talk if you don’t know the opponent. Probably it’s a big team. But we really don’t know the level of game of this local team,” Toroman said.

It’s safe to say the Serbian mentor is aching more to play the Iranians and the Lebanese, two teams likely to figure prominently in the gold medal race in the Guangzhou Asian Games in November.

“The Lebanon team is going to be a strong competition. They’re here without Fadi El-Khatib but they have two NBA players and all the best Lebanese players. They also have players from the NCAA that I don’t know,” said Toroman of the Lebanon team bannered by NBA veterans Jackson Vroman and Matt Freije.

“Iran will be coming in from a tournament in Italy. Hamed Ehdadi is in the US NBA summer league but Iran is still the best team in Asia,” said Toroman of his former team.

Toroman believes the games versus Lebanon and Iran will best gauge the progress of Smart Gilas.

“It’s really a big test for us to see where we are at this moment. At the moment, we don’t have problems. No injuries, everybody’s healthy and I think we are going to the game with a positive atmosphere,” said Toroman.

But he hardly expects a breeze against the Taiwan University All Stars.

“From my experience here, the domestic teams (Taiwanese) play much better here than outside. We have to be realistic. We don’t expect to win something like 40 points,” said Toroman

Last year, the Chinese Taipei national team finished fourth while Chinese Taipei Team B placed seventh.

“I expect a lot from this tournament. I’m positive this well help us in our preparation for the Asian Games,” said Toroman.

Smart Gilas brought in 14 players here, the last being Fil-Am guard Marcius Lassiter who flew in just yesterday afternoon.

SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan has said he would be happy on a semifinal finish by Smart Gilas in the Asiad. Their big dream is to qualify for the London Olympics in 2012.