MANILA, Philippines - Smart Gilas Pilipinas will check on three Filipino-foreign prospects that could help the team in its campaign in the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games this year and the FIBA-Asia Championship or 2012 Olympic qualifier next year.
RP’s Serbian coach Rajko Toroman said they’re eyeing Fil-German 6’8” Christian Standhardinger, Fil-Italian 6’5” Nico Monachini and Fil-Am 6’1” Chris Banchero for possible inclusion in the team in search of a berth in the 2012 London Games.
Toroman and the Nationals are now in Las Vegas where they would play three more American Basketball Association teams as part of their US training trip.
Smart Gilas toppled the San Diego Surf, 94-93, but dropped a pair of heartbreaking decisions to the Los Angles Slam, 107-111, and the Riverside Rainmakers, 96-99, before proceeding to Las Vegas where they would play three more matches at the Impact Gym.
“I want to see these players. I will try to get their commitment to play for the team if I’m impressed,” said Toroman, who added they still need another power forward in the squad.
Of three, Standhardinger appears the most impressive having suited up for US NCAA Division I school University of Nebraska where he averaged 8.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game as a freshman.
The 20-year-old Standhardinger, who has a Filipina mother, may have some eligibility problems since he has already played for Germany’s Under-19 squad two years ago after exploding for 37 points and plucking 12 rebounds in the German Youth Championships.
Monchini, for his part, played for two Canadian schools-University of British Columbia and Trinity Western U-while Banchero saw action for Division II Seattle Pacific Falcons, whom he led to a 22-6 record.
Banchero, in particular, averaged 19.6 points on an impressive 52-percent shooting clip, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals for the Falcons where he churned out 30-point effort twice and 20-point performance 16 times.
Former Marshall U star Chris Lutz will join the team after Las Vegas and should further boost Toroman’s backcourt rotation composed of skipper Chris Tiu, co-captain Mark Barroca, JV Casio, JR Cawaling, RJ Jazul, Rey Guevarra and another Fil-Am Marcio Lassiter.
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