Smart RP five debuts vs Koreans

JAKARTA – Team Smart Gilas Pilipinas opens its campaign in the 20th FIBA-Asia Champions Cup against South Korea’s Sangmoo today, hoping to come out strong and make good impression on a field teeming with talent.

RP’s Serbian coach Rajko Toroman, who steered Iran to the 2007 FIBA-Asia crown in Tokushima, Japan for a stint in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, said the RP cagers are upbeat of their chances for at least a semifinal finish in a tournament he considers as one of the strongest in years.

“It’s definitely one of the toughest, but our goal is to make it to the semifinals,” said Toroman.

The team arrived early Monday and had its practice at 9 a.m. after organizers made a last-minute change in their schedule, originally set at 11 a.m.

But this failed to dampen the spirit of the team, which is using the nine-day import-laced tournament as part of its buildup for a crack at a berth in the 2012 London Olympics.

American 6-11 CJ Giles is reinforcing the team skippered by former Ateneo star Chris Tiu along with collegiate standouts Mark Barroca, Dylan Ababou, JV Casio, Mac Baracael, Aldrech Ramos, JR Cawaling, RJ Jazul, Rey Guevarra, Jason Ballesteros and Fil-Am center Greg Slaughter.

US-based Japeth Aguilar and the Fil-Am duo Chris Lutz and Sean Anthony were recently picked up in a training camp late last month in Las Vegas, Nevada but will not be with the team this week because of school commitments.

After the single round elims, the top four teams in two groups will advance to the quarterfinal round with the top team in a group taking on the worst team on the other.

After Korea, Smart Gilas will take on defending champion Mahram of Iran at 2 p.m. tomorrow at the Kelapa Gading Sports Mall.

The Nationals will take a one-day break on Thursday before returning to action against Al Riyadi of Lebanon at 2 p.m. on Friday and Qadsia of Kuwait at 6 p.m. on Saturday.