If the campaign of Team Pilipinas Smart Gilas in the forthcoming FIBA-Asia Champions Cup ends up outside the top two finalists, head coach Rajko Toroman will consider it a failure. That is how confident the Nationals are as they brace up for the 10-team tourney set to start on May 28 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. This is the final year of the three-year program aim to bring back the Philippines to the Olympiad cage circle in London next year. The Olympic qualifiers is scheduled this Septmber in China where only one slot is available for the London games. Naturalized citizen Marcus Douthit together with PBA reinforcements Asi Taulava and Dondon Hontiveros spearheads Smart Gilas, which will be playing Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia in the opening day. Torman says the Asia Champs Cup is a tough competition but they hope not to disappoint their countrymen by finishing in the top two spots of the eight-day event.
“We’re aiming for a finals appearance at least and see what happens from there. We know the Filipino people are coming to watch and cheer for us and we don’t want to disappoint them. We have to be prepared because we know the competition is going to be tough.”
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