Gilas Pilipinas eyeing no less than finals (FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2011)
source: Joel Orellana | businessmirror.com.ph
SMART Gilas-Pilipinas is eyeing nothing but a finals stint in the 22nd Intenational Basketball Federation (Fiba)-Asia Champions Cup slated next week at the PhilSports Arena.
Head coach Rajko Toroman said this year’s competition definitely would not be a walk in the park for the hosts, but with a lighter group in the classification phase and playing in front of the home crowd, reaching the gold-medal round is achievable.
“We’re aiming for a finals appearance at least and see what happens from there,” the Serbian coach said.
“We know that the Filipino fans are coming to watch and cheer for us and we don’t want to disappoint them so we will be motivated to play in the tournament,” he added.
The Philippines begins its campaign against Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia on May 28 at 6 p.m.
Aside from Smart Gilas-Pilipinas and Al-Ittihad, also in Group A are Jordan’s ASU, Duhok of Iraq and WKL Dragons of Malaysia.
After the Arab club champion, Smart Gilas will take on the WKL Dragons, third placer in the second Asean Basketball League, on May 29. The nationals test the mettle of Duhok at 8 p.m. on May 31 before their last elimination match on June 1 against Jordan.
The Philippine side needs to top its group to face a lighter opponent in the quarterfinal stage. Group B is considered to be the Group of Death in the tournament.
Leading the other group is defending champion Mahram of Iran, reigning West Arab League titlist Al Riyadi of Lebanon, last year’s second placer Al Rayyan of Qatar, Syria’s Al Jalaa and Al Shabab of the United Arab of Emirates.
Kicking off the Fiba-Asia Champions Cup is the battle between Duhok and ASU at 2 p.m., to be followed by the tussle between Mahram and Al Jalaa at 4 p.m. Capping the opening day is the game between Al Shabbab and Al Riyadi at 8 p.m.
Last year the Philippine team finished a dismal seventh in the tournament in Doha, Qatar.
Naturalized player Marcus Douthit and Philippine Basketball Association reinforcements Asi Taulava and Dondon Hontiveros will spearhead the Smart Gilas’s campaign in this tournament and Toroman said their presence definitely a big boost for his young team.
“I think we are more competitive than last year,” the Serbian coach said. “But we have to be prepared because we know the competition is going to be tough but we are ready.”
Other members of Smart Gilas-Pilipinas are team captain Chris Tiu, cocaptain Mark Barroca, JV Casio, Marcio Lassiter, Marnel Baracael, Japeth Aguilar, Greg Slaughter, Dylan Ababou, Chris Lutz and Aldrech Ramos.
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