JAKARTA – Two pillars of Smart Gilas Pilipinas bat for the continuation of the cage program even if the team fails in its Olympic qualifying bid in the FIBA-Asia Championship in China in September.
Coach Rajko Toroman and skipper Chris Tiu yesterday stressed the need to sustain the success of the program launched three years ago aimed at qualifying the Philippines to the 2012 London Olympics.
The Nationals formalized their stint in the Olympic qualifier set Sept. 15-25 in Wuhan, China with an emphatic showing in the SEABA tournament.
“The Smart Gilas program is a great program and it must continue if the Philippines wants to look beyond London,” said Toroman.
The Nationals are playing the host Indonesians at press time in the finals of the ninth SEABA tilt at the Brittama Arena here.
“It’s a good program that should be continued,” said Tiu, who reiterated his desire to forego his plans to join the pro ranks if the program would be extended.
Toroman said the new Smart Gilas must be a combination of some members of the team seeing action in the SEA Games in November and the old Smart Gilas squad.
“It should be formed by tapping the best players of the SEA Games team and players from the old Smart Gilas team plus Marcus (Douthit),” said Toroman, referring to the naturalized 6-10 Douthit, the team’s reinforcement for its Olympic quest.
The SEAG-bound team is coached by Norman Black and composed of the best collegiate players.
There is a possibility that Smart Gilas would be disbanded if it fails in the FIBA-Asia Championship, which stakes the lone Olympic berth for the region.
“I would love to continue to play for Smart Gilas, I hope after the Olympics we’ll go for the World Championship,” said Tiu.
Meanwhile, Indonesia overpowered Malaysia, 77-47, Saturday night to arrange a rematch with Smart Gilas, which routed the hosts, 94-54, last Friday.
Toroman, however, cautioned his wards not to be too complacent.
“Although we beat Indonesia by 40 points, it can’t be said in the finals because I know they’ll make adjustments and we expect the game to be closer,” he said.