MANILA, Philippines — Smart-Gilas Pilipinas Serbian mentor Rajko Toroman on Tuesday raised his concern over the risk factor but he believes that playing more games in the qualifying round will help them achieve their goal in the Asian Games.
According to Toroman, playing an extra two or three games in the first stage of the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China from Nov. 12 to 27 will allow PBA players Asi Taulava, Kelly Williams and Sol Mercado to adjust to his system.
The PBA superstars have been with the RP team’s training sessions the last five weeks, but only the burly 6-foot-9 Taulava played with the Nationals in a tournament last August during the Stankovic Cup in Beirut, Lebanon.
“It's not good because of the injuries,” Toroman said in the PSA Forum on Tuesday at the Shakey’s Restaurant in U.N. Avenue. “On the other side, we have PBA players and we can use it as adjustment period. We’ll see how the PBA players will make the adjustment.”
“We can’t spend our energy on thinking on the format, we have to pass everything they will put and prepare ourselves. We are ready to show our quality and fight for a medal,” added Toroman.
According to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Noli Eala, it's still unclear whether or not Saudi Arabia or Kuwait have dropped out from the competition of the Asiad, and what will happen in the event if these teams push through with their threat to withdraw.
Subject: Asiad tourney format worries SBP 
Tue Nov 02, 2010 8:22 pm
