Pilipinas-Smart Gilas are bracketed in an easier group in FIBA Asia Champions Cup: Asian Club Basketball Update
The 22nd Federation Internationale de Basket-ball (FIBA) Asia Champions Cup will begin from 28th May to 5th June, 2011 and will be held
at the Philippines capital, Manila.
FIBA Asia Champions Cup is Asia’s foremost event for the club teams. Top ten club teams from different FIBA Asia National Federations compete against each other in this
nine-day bash, aspiring to become the Champion club of Asia.
In this event the host country has the advantage over the other teams, as they can pick a group of their own choice. Since Philippines are hosting the tournament this year,
so they will enjoy this incentive.
The Pilipinas-Smart Gilas, Philippines club side has been bunched in an easier “Group A” in the next month Champions Cup.
FIBA Asia Deputy Secretary General Hagop Khajirian conducted the draw at Manila on Friday. Ex-SBP President Manuel V. Pangilinan, former FIBA Asia Secretary General Mauricio
C. Martelino and SBP Executive Director Renauld N. Barrios were among the other VIPs of the event.
Ambassadors of Iran and Lebanon, legislative body of Embassy of Qatar and the coach of the Malaysian National squad were also present to grace the occasion.
It was Pilipinas-Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman, who decided to play in Group A along with Malaysia, Jordan, Japan and a Middle Asia representative, either Afghanistan
or Kazakhstan.
Group B will comprise of Syria and Lebanese teams together with Al Sahad of United Arab Emirates, Al Rayyan of Qatar and defending champions Mahram of Iran. Since Group
B is considered the “group of death,” coach Toroman seems happy with the draw, as Gilas will face the tougher teams only in the next round.
Highlighting the fact, Coach Toroman said "The best teams in the competition are in Group B. In Group A, we can build enough confidence if we enter the quarterfinals because any of the teams in Group
B will be very, very tough." However, the Serbian national said that he is not going to take the Group A teams lightly. "It won't be easy, but it will be (much) easier compared to Group B."
All sides can import a player, but the Gilas will not avail the option as they are preparing for the Asian qualifying round of the 2012 London Olympics and want to concentrate on grooming their own national
talent. This move also comes in the context of the fact that Marcus Douthit, an ex-NBA player, has now been granted Philippines nationality.
Toroman, who also coached the Iran national basketball team in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, said, "We will have the disadvantage of not having an import, but our goal is the
FIBA-Asia Championship while playing with Marcus Douthit."
Currently the Gilas are gearing up to play their best of five semi-finals series against Barangay Ginebra in the Philippines Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner's Cup.
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