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    Ex-Gilas coach Toroman willing to pitch in, but doubts if offer will be accepted

    Ex-Gilas coach keen to pitch in, but doubts if offer will be accepted
    Jan 17, 2013
    Serbian coach Rajko Toroman led the original Gilas squad to a fourth-place finish in the 2011 Fiba-Asia championship. Jerome Ascano

    FORMER national coach Rajko Toroman has not closed the door on a possible role with the national team to this year’s Fiba-Asia Men's Basketball Championship despite moving on to coach Barako Bull in the PBA.

    The Serbian coach who led the Philippines to a fourth-place finish in the 2011 Fiba-Asia championship said that he is very much willing to lend a helping hand to Gilas Pilipinas especially now that the country is hosting the event.

    But Toroman is also the first to say that he doesn’t see himself being invited to be part of the national team, more so because of the acrimonious nature of his departure from the national set-up.

    “I’m willing,” said Toroman. “But I don’t think that they will invite me.”

    However, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios said they will always leave the door open for Toroman, but expressed doubts on whether the Serb will be tapped..

    “I doubt,” he said.

    Still, Toroman reiterated that he is willing to help in whatever way he can.

    “I will always try to help in something. But we will see. I don’t want to say no now. You never say no. Everything can be changed. I’m open,” Toroman said.

    Toroman took charge of the original Gilas Pilipinas team after steering Iran to an Olympic berth in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

    Gilas' goal to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics proved unsuccessful as they finished fourth in the 2011 Fiba-Asia Championships in China - still the country’s best finish since a similar performance in 1987.

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    Serbian coach Rajko Toroman led the original Gilas squad to a fourth-place finish in the 2011 Fiba-Asia championship. Jerome Ascano
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