SERBIAN coach Rajko Toroman, the architect of the original Gilas Pilipinas program, is convinced the squad set to do battle in this year’s FIBA World Cup is “the strongest team in the history of Philippine basketball.
“They have size, everything, even the guys who have international exposure like Kiefer Ravena and Dwight Ramos,” Toroman said.
“I think that’s the strongest team in the history of Philippine basketball,” he added.
Leading the Filipino dribblers campaign in the blue-ribbon world cage spectacle are NBA standout and naturalized player Jordan Clarkson, center Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, reigning PBA MVP Scottie Thompson and former six-time winner June Mar Fajardo and a bevy of pro league stars.
Toroman, 68, called the shots for the first Gilas team from 2009 to 2011.
Toroman said the 6-foot-5 Clarkson, a former NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner with the Utah Jazz, will spell the big difference for Gilas.
“First time with Jordan Clarkson (for the World Cup). They need the time to fix everything, to make the chemistry,” Toroman, who was recently tapped by College of St. Benilde in the NCAA and Converge in the PBA to be their team consultant, said.
“But you know Clarkson can do a lot, you can see that he dominated the play here. Just need to make the chemistry between all the players.”
The Nationals of coach Chot Reyes kick off their bid in the global basketball showcase against the Dominican Republic on Friday at the Philippine Arena before taking Angola two days later at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Gilas ends its Group A stint against Italy on Aug. 29 also at the Big Dome.
