Though Rajko Toroman sees a very competitive Gilas Pilipinas team, he believes it will still be a daunting task for the national team to hurdle European squads Latvia and Georgia in FIBA’s final qualifier for the Paris Olympics.
Encouraging Signs in Friendlies
The former Gilas Pilipinas coach noted the high level of play that the Nationals showed in friendlies against Turkey and Poland as an encouraging sign ahead of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Riga, Latvia, starting on Thursday.
“I think that Gilas showed in the two friendly games that they are really competitive,” Toroman said during the Strong Group Athletics-Pilipinas media day on Tuesday. “If you lose [a close game] to Turkey with a lot of Euroleague players, that means that you are good.”
Tough European Competition
Toroman warned that the reality is Latvia and Georgia, like most European teams, are tough to play under such an environment where they will be vying for the final slots in the Olympic Games. Latvia’s determination to qualify is evident as they are hosting the OQT after finishing fifth in last year’s FIBA Basketball World Cup, which was not enough for direct qualification to Paris.
“Latvia organized this tournament because they want to go to the Olympic Games. Otherwise, they will not give to FIBA one or two million (hosting expenses),” Toroman said. “They show here in the World Cup that they are very, very strong with a very good coach, Luca Banchi. It will be very, very tough.”
Gilas’ Path to the OQT
Gilas earned a spot in the OQT following a 24th-place finish in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. The team could have qualified for the Paris Games if it ended up as the best-placed Asian team in the tournament, a spot that went to 19th-placer Japan.
Competitive Yet Realistic Expectations
Toroman said it will already be a respectable showing if Gilas can make its games against the two European teams in the group stage competitive, which he thinks is possible with the way the team is playing under coach Tim Cone.
“The chances are not so big but still, you know that they have a chance,” Toroman said. “For me, these two games can give you hope that they can do something. But I don’t think that everybody can expect some miracles from Gilas because the competition is so, so tough.”
Positive Steps Forward
Toroman noted the high level of play of Justin Brownlee in the friendly matches and the cohesion the team has shown under Cone as steps in the right direction.
“I was talking about the chemistry and the system. I think Brownlee made a lot of positive things in the team. And they are now looking better than before,” Toroman said. “I think if they can be competitive with European teams, that will be enough. Because for me, it’s easier to qualify for the Olympic Games during the World Cup like Japan than in this competition.”
Conclusion
Toroman acknowledged that many European teams did not qualify for the Olympic Games, making the competition in the OQT extremely tough. “A lot of European teams didn’t qualify for the Olympic Games. I think the European teams are the favorites to go to the Olympic Games,” he concluded.(Voslot)
Summary of Key Points
| Key Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Competitive Friendlies | Gilas showed strong performance against Turkey and Poland. |
| Tough Competition | Latvia and Georgia are formidable opponents in the OQT. |
| Gilas’ Path to OQT | Qualified after 24th-place finish in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. |
| Realistic Expectations | Competitive games against European teams would be a respectable outcome. |
| Positive Developments | Strong performances by Justin Brownlee and improved team cohesion under coach Tim Cone. |
| Challenges | Many European teams failed to qualify, making the OQT highly competitive. |