IF you happen to be watching the PBA games from 2012 to 2013, chances are you may have seen this young Caucasian boy running up and down the VIP rows of the Araneta Coliseum or MOA Arena during Smart Gilas and Barako Bull games.
Well, the kid is the grandson of Smart Pilipinas pioneer coach and former Petron and Barako Bull active consultant Rajko Toroman. And the boy, now a teenager, is going places.
Djordje Sekularac is currently one of the top Under-16 players of the Serbian national team and is getting rare exposure by playing side-by-side with members of the Under-18 team.
Averaging 16 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals per game, the 6-foot-7 Sekularac is becoming a top prospect in Serbia, where his dad was once the star small forward of the national squad.
“He is already playing with the Under-18 and he is only 16-and-a-half years old. There were plans to formally include him in the Under-18 of the national team, but he is just too young and raw,” said Toroman’s daughter Sandra, the mother of Sekularac.
“That’s very rare here in Serbia, an Under-16 [player] already considered to be part of the Under-18 of the Serbian national team,” she said of his son, a starting small forward for the U18 Partizan Team of Belgrade at the Junior Euroleague.
It may be said that Sekularac developed his passion for the sport here in the Philippines.
The elder Toroman told SPIN.ph that during his time with Gilas and in the PBA from 2009 to 2013, Sekularac would often join him in daily practices and play ball with some of his players like Mark Barroca and Chris Tiu.
“He was only four years old when he first came to Manila and he came back seven times with his mom (Sandra),” said the veteran coach.
Hanging out in Smart Gilas practice
And in those times that he was here, Toroman said Sekularac would watch all the games of his team.
“He started to love basketball while here in the Philippines. He was watching all of the games (of Gilas, Petron and Barako),” Toroman said. “He would even join me when I scout other teams."
“I remember him getting the team’s ball and would shoot it at the wall in Araneta, his career really started in Manila,” said Toroman.
The 69-year old mentor also shared how Sekularac would play with Tiu, Barroca and JV Casio.
“Joining me at work, everyday in practice was a big influence on him to love basketball and to play basketball. He learned the basics of the game around Filipino players and, at five years old, he was already playing with them,” he said.
Toroman said that Sekularac idolizes Lebron James, but his first idol was Tiu.
Chris Tiu his first idol
“His first connection with Filipino players was with Chris Tiu. He really loves Chris Tiu. Chris would often teach him dribbling and shooting and up to now Djordje is grateful for that,” said the veteran coach who guided Indonesia to the 2019 SEA Games gold medal, beating the Philippines.
“I remember Chris would join Djordje and ask JV and Mark to play with them half court. All the guys (at the original Gilas were fond of him). When we were in Serbia with Gilas, Djordje would often stay in our hotel to be with these players,” he said.
Asked if the Philippines still hold a special place in the heart of Sekularac, Toroman nodded.
“Definitely, it’s very difficult for him to forget that. His father is a basketball player, my nephew is a basketball player. He has a gene for basketball, but his biggest influence during his formative years enjoying the game was in the Philippines,” said Toroman.
“He will always be indebted to Filipino players and his love for basketball grew even more watching the huge crowd enjoying the games in the Philippines,” he added.
Sandra bared that until now, her son still follows the developments of basketball here in the Philippines, especially whenever his grandfather would be involved.
“Yes, he still keeps up with the news of basketball there in the Philippines. And he even wants to visit there come summer (in Serbia) in July,” said Ms. Toroman whose dad is currently a consultant at Converge, Strong Group Athletics and College of St. Benilde Blazers in the NCAA.
"He was only 6 years old when he last saw a game there in the PBA. And he is very excited."
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