MANILA, Philippines – The Smart-Gilas Pilipinas national team, composed mainly of former and current UAAP basketball stars, left for Serbia Sunday night to resume their build-up for the upcoming Asian Games in Guangzhou, China later this year.
Source: GMANEWS
Led by team captain and former Ateneo Blue Eagle Chris Tiu, the UAAP-bred members of the RP five flew to Belgrade via Thai Airways flight 0625 which took off at around 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
The team is composed of Magi Sison (University of the Philippines), Dylan Ababou (University of Santo Tomas), JV Casio (De La Salle University), Ryan Buenafe (Ateneo), and former Ateneo Blue Eagle and PBA player Japeth Aguilar.
Far Eastern University’s (FEU) JR Cawaling, Aldrech Ramos, Mac Baracael and Mark Barroca are also in the team.
The UAAP class planed in with the Smart Gilas coaching staff headed by Serbian mentor Rajko Toroman and teammates Greg Slaughter, RJ Jazul, Rey Guevarra, Jason Ballesteros and Marcio Lassiter.
Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas deputy executive director Bernie Atienza, chief de mission of the Serbian tour, will join the team on April 2.
Smart Gilas will stop over in Athens and Rome before proceeding to Belgrade where they will stay at Hotel Serbia for the rest of their 12-day workout.
Serbian opposition
In Toroman’s home country, the Nationals expect to play a series of exhibition games against top Serbian teams seeing action in the Division I and Division II circuits of various European hoop leagues.
Serbia, a traditional basketball superpower in Europe, is currently No. 5 in the latest FIBA (International Basketball Federation) world rankings, while the Philippines stands at No. 53.
Toroman, who turned Iran into a new Asian basketball force with an Olympic basketball stint in 2008, hopes to squeeze out the best yet again from his wards despite coming off a grueling 10-day training in Australia a week ago.
“This will be a good chance for us to really find out how much they have improved after a year of training,” said Toroman. “Let’s see how they will manage against the opposition in Serbia which they played (with) during this time last year.”
Hardly missing the services of an import, the Nationals aced their Australian odyssey with victories over the Australian Under-19 squad (78-67), Australian Institute of Sports (79-73), Canberra Gunners (79-73) and Sydney Comets (93-81).
Their only low-key performance marked a 73-73 tie in a rematch with the Australian Institute of Sports.
After Serbia, the Nationals leave for the United States on April 23 to undergo a 9-day clinic in Las Vegas, Nevada where they will be joined by Fil-Am recruit Chris Lutz of NCAA Division I school Marshall University.
Women’s action
Meanwhile, Diane Jose (FEU), Cassy Tioseco (Ateneo) and Ewon Arayi (Adamson University) banner the 18-member women’s national team.
The squad will start its own grind in Australia in May to prepare for the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) meet from June 12 to 16.
Bankrolled by Discovery Suites executive Cynthia Tiu, the Australian trip brings the RP team to the Australian Institute of Sports in Canberra.
The women players will have a 10-day tune-up with the best lady cagers Down Under. – by Anthony Divinagracia
For more UAAP, visit www.uaapsports.com.
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