Toroman concedes Gilas’ slight edge
Coach Rajko Toroman yesterday conceded that the Philippines has a 60 percent chance of upending Indonesia when they clash in the FIBA Asia Cup third qualifying window at Clark on June 18. But the Serbian who once called the shots for Gilas is hoping to defy the odds with key additions to the Indonesian lineup.
When Gilas crushed Indonesia, 100-70, in the first qualifying window in Jakarta in February last year, Toroman’s squad was bannered by Abraham Grahita and Andakara Prastawa who scored a total of 45 points on a combined 7-of-17 from three-point distance. But in Clark, the team will be reinforced by naturalized import 6-10 Lester Prosper, 6-5 Govinda Saputra and 6-2 Agassi Goantara. Key holdovers are six-foot Grahita, 5-9 Prastawa, 5-9 Hardinius Lakudu, 6-2 Arki Wisnu and 6-8 Vincent Kosasih. Size used to be a handicap for Indonesia but not anymore with Prosper declaring that gone are the days when Indonesia would lose by 20, 30 or 50 points. “We’re going to fight ‘til the end,” he vowed. “I’m ready for anyone.”
Toroman said 15 players were invited to the national pool and he still has to decide which 12 will play in Clark. The plan is to arrive in Manila on June 14. Indonesia’s first game will be against South Korea on June 17. “Playoff is ongoing,” said Toroman, referring to the trials to determine the final 12. “Lester will play. (Brandon) Jawato had an operation on his back and has started his recovering process. He will not play in Clark but we hope that he will play in the FIBA Asia Cup (in Jakarta on Aug. 16-28).” Jawato is a US-born Indonesian-American who received his Indonesian passport at the age of 27 and has played in Indonesia the last five years. FIBA granted an exemption to recognize Jawato as a local, not a naturalized citizen. The 6-4 former University of Hawaii guard is considered the best local player in Indonesia. In November last year, he compiled 22 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in 31 minutes to power Indonesia to a 90-76 win over Thailand in the second qualifying window. With Jawato in the roster, maybe Toroman would’ve called it a 50-50 game against the Philippines.
The Philippines suited up seven PBA players plus Thirdy Ravena in the 30-point blowout over Indonesia last year. But Kiefer Ravena, Abu Tratter, Poy Erram, Justin Chua, RR Pogoy, CJ Perez and Troy Rosario won’t be in Clark. Thirdy will also be absent. Dwight Ramos, Isaac Go, Matt Nieto and Juan Gomez de Liaño were the “cadets” who saw action in that game. Gilas project director Tab Baldwin has assembled a 20-man pool for Clark and Kai Sotto’s arrival the other night upped it to 21.
Naturalized import Ange Kouame will make his Gilas debut and expected to also be named to the team are the Nieto brothers Mike and Matt, Ramos, Go, Justine Baltazar, Carl Tamayo, Rey Suerte, Jordan Heading and Sotto. A team may submit a cast of more than 12 players from whom 12 will be picked to suit up the day before each game. In the second window, the Philippines submitted a lineup of 14 and chose a different 12 to play in two games against Thailand. Gilas coach Jong Uichico said every team is allowed to bring in up to 25 persons in Clark and that includes coaches, utility and staff. It’s possible that Gilas will again submit a roster of 14 from which to pick 12 for every game but Uichico said the decision of how many to list hasn’t been made.
Toroman said Kouame, a 6-10 Ivory Coast native, will be “a big help” to Gilas. He singled out eight players to form his basic rotation – Prosper, Grahita, Prastawa, Lakudu, Wisnu, Kosasih, Saputra and Goantara. Wisnu, 33, is a New York-born, full-blooded Indonesian who played at Baruch College, a US NCAA D-3 school and has seen action in Indonesia since 2011. The team’s top gun is Grahita who averaged 21.3 points and shot 46.2 percent from triple range in three qualifying games so far. Prosper has played only one game for Indonesia, collecting 19 points and 13 rebounds against Thailand in Bahrain last November.
(From The Philippine Star)