Toroman's crystal ball

In his fearless forecast, Smart-Gilas national developmental basketball team coach Rajko Toroman recently predicted Iran, Korea, the Philippines and Japan to make it to the quarterfinals from Groups A and B and China, Lebanon, Jordan and Qatar or Kazakhstan from Groups C and D at the FIBA-Asia Championships in Tianjin on Aug. 6-16.

Toroman said Jordan, Lebanon and Qatar are now training overseas to prepare for Tianjin.

Jordan, with Portuguese coach Mario Palma and naturalized player Rashiem Wright, is playing in Italy.

Palma’s latest recruit is 6-5 Jamal Abu Shamala of the University of Minnesota.

Lebanon is training in Serbia while Qatar is in France. Jordan, Iran and Lebanon are playing in a pair of pocket tournaments in Doha early next month before proceeding to Taipei for the Jones Cup.

Lebanon will hole up in Manila after the Jones Cup then flies to Tianjin.

Another FIBA-Asia entry Kuwait will also train here.

Toroman, the Serbian who took Iran to the FIBA-Asia title two years ago, left Manila with wife Tanya for a brief home leave in Belgrade last Sunday.

He returns July 12 and will recall the Smart-Gilas squad for practice on July 15.

While in Belgrade, Toroman will attend a coaching clinic in Zeleznik on June 27-28.

 Speaking at the clinic are Serbian national coach Dusan Ivkovic, former Spanish national coach Pepu Hernandez, University of Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan, Marko Stojanovic of the University of Novi Sad and conditioning coach Vladimir Koprivica of the Faculty of Sport in the University of Belgrade.

The clinic will also expose the participating coaches to a pre-Universiade tournament involving Russia, Canada, USA and host Serbia.

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Before departing, Toroman said he’s looking forward to the future with Smart-Gilas recently signing up 6-10 Junmar Fajardo of the University of Cebu.

Smart-Gilas is building up a solid frontline to support naturalization candidate C. J. Giles and aside from Fajardo, Toroman said he’s hoping to enlist Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Japeth Aguilar.

 At the moment, the team’s bigs are 6-7 Jason Ballesteros, 6-7 Aldrech Ramos and 6-9 Greg Slaughter.

Smart-Gilas will play as a guest entry in the PBA Philippine Cup next season.

The results of its games will be reflected in the standings of the PBA teams to make sure there is strong motivation to win.

PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios said the condition to count the games is Smart-Gilas’ commitment to play the 10 PBA teams the same number of games.

Aguilar is the object of a tug-of-war between Smart-Gilas and the PBA.

While it is certain that the 6-10 Aguilar will play for Powerade Team Pilipinas in the Jones Cup, nothing is sure about his plans after the Taipei tournament.

Smart-Gilas wants to sign him up for three years while several PBA teams are wooing him to turn pro this August.

A so-called “principled compromise” could be worked out for Aguilar to apply for the coming PBA draft but will be allowed to play for Smart-Gilas in certain international tournaments, like the Asian Games in Guangzhou next year.

Aguilar’s age was noted to be 24 in wikipedia and CBS Sports (his birthdate is listed Jan. 25, 1985) but sources said he’s really only 22 (his birth year is supposedly 1987).

The age factor is crucial in determining whether or not Aguilar is ripe to turn pro because as Powerade coach Yeng Guiao said it may be a little too late for the former Ateneo and Western Kentucky center to join the PBA as a rookie at 27 or 28.

The FIBA-Asia draw was described as “lucky” for Powerade by the panel that represented the country in Tianjin.

The panel was composed of Powerade team manager J. B. Baylon, SBP executive director Noli Eala and “lucky charm” interpreter Andrew Teh.

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However, dark clouds hovered over the Crowne Plaza Hotel where the draw was held and the signs were ominous that the Philippines would be in for rough sailing.

The day before the draw, the Philippine panel experienced heavy turbulence about 15 minutes before landing in Beijing.

 Passengers, including Rep. Joe de Venecia’s wife Gina, were praying hard for a safe landing as thunder and lighting rocked the skies.

After some harrowing moments during the morning flight, the PAL plane touched down with no problem.

Then, the panel took a two-hour bus ride to Tianjin.