Philippine Sports News and Updates

MANILA, Philippines – Serbian coach Rajko Toroman believes China remains the team to beat in the 2009 FIBA-Asia men’s basketball championship even minus superstar center Yao Ming.

China will host the August 6 to 16 tournament in the city of Tianjin. A veteran of both Asian and international basketball, the Gilas RP team coach said the 2009 FIBA-Asia tournament is going to be one hell of a campaign for the Powerade Team Pilipinas with almost all qualifiers aiming for the three spots in the World Championships.

The 7-foot-6 Yao, China's superstar center, suffered a hairline fracture in his left foot during the Houston Rockets’ NBA playoff series with the Los Angeles Lakers, an injury that forced him to miss the rest of the second round and put an abrupt end to what had been a wonderful season for the Chinese big man.

“I don’t think Yao will be playing for China in the FIBA-Asia," said Toroman, who just a year ago powered the Iran national team to the championship of the same tournament opposite Fadi El-Khatib and Lebanon before coming here and accepting the offer by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) for him to coach the RP squad being groomed for the 2012 London Olympics.

For topping last year’s FIBA-Asia, Toroman and Iran earned a ticket to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“But no way will China allowed its team to lose before their home crowd. Besides, the Chinese are still a formidable one even without Yao," added the Serbian coach, mentioning NBA players Yi Jianlian (New Jersey Nets) and Sun Yue (Los Angeles Lakers), and veterans Wang Zhi Zhi, Li Nan, Wang Lei and Liu Wei among those expected to suit up again for the hosts.

All five were with the Chinese team that reached the quarterfinals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“So China is expected to get the first slot, and the second, probably to Iran," Toroman said.

“Now, that leaves the remaining berth a toss up among the Philippines, Lebanon, Qatar, Jordan, Japan, Korea, and even Kazakhstan. Seven teams for a single slot."

The fight for the remaining berth according to Toroman, is a wide-open race that the rest of the countries are now desperately trying to beef up their respective rosters.

Lebanon for one, has already naturalized American Jackson Vroman following his scintillating performance in the last FIBA-Asia Champions Cup while playing as import for eventual champion Mahram Tehran team of Iran.

“Everybody, it seems, want to go to the World Championship," said a smiling Toroman, who added that Japan is also a big threat in the Philippines’ bid having seen the team up close when Smart Gilas RP played them in a series of exhibition games recently.

Yuta Tabuse has left the team for another shot at the NBA, but old mainstays Takehiko Orimo, Shunsuke Ito, twin brothers Joji and Kosuke Takeuchi remain with the national squad.

“I think Japan will pull off some surprise. If you will take them for granted, then they can easily beat you," added Toroman, who called the shots for Iran in the last Beijing Games.

Toroman said a quarterfinals stint would be an achievement of the Powerade-Team Pilipinas. “Just advancing into the quarterfinals is already a big feat for them. Then perhaps, once they make, the team takes it from there."

• GMANews.TV
• Philippine Sports Central