Smart-Gilas national team head coach Rajko Toroman has expressed the wish to have Kelly Williams (in photo), Ryan Reyes, and either Asi Taulava or Sonny Thoss.

It will take a board resolution before the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) can release some of its players to the national team.

PBA chairman Rene Pardo said on Thursday that the pro league’s board of governors will have to discuss that possibility once the Samahang basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP) formally makes a request to loan players from the PBA.

“They have to request first, and then the PBA board will talk about it,” Pardo said.

After another disappointing campaign in the 32nd William R. Jones Cup in Taipei, Smart-Gilas Serbian mentor Rajko Toroman said the other day that the national team needs to be reinforced by not just one but at least three PBA players.

Toroman has expressed the wish to have Kelly Williams, Ryan Reyes, and either Asi Taulava or Sonny Thoss.

However, Smart-Gilas sources also mentioned the names of power forward Ranidel de Ocampo, a teammate of Williams and Reyes at Talk ’N Text, as well as Rain or Shine guard Solomon Mercado as possible additions to the national team.

Pardo said that because of an existing agreement between the PBA and the SBP in forming the men’s basketball team, loaning a player from the pro league will not be that easy, saying: “Umatras na nga ang PBA (in forming RP team) to give way to Smart-Gilas.”

But he said that because it’s for the national cause, “so we’ll discuss it.”

Toroman said he plans to use the PBA reinforcements only for the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China in November.

Source: WAYLON GALVEZ, MB.com.ph

Coach Rajko Toroman knows that he can't win with his current lineup that is why he is seeking to get the players that should have been in the lineup to begin with. PBA players. There are a lot more players that he should consider in the lineup like Gabe Norwood, James Yap and Jay Washington. It will be a better team if they used the PBA stars for the National Team and we will have a better chance of getting back on top of the Asian Basketball scene. We should look at other possible imports for the team I think that there are a lot more better players than Douthit.

This means one thing, PBA still the prime league in the country. Mas malalakas talaga ang players ng PBA kaysa sa Smart Gilas. Given a chance, mas maganda kasi kung magdisband na lng yan Smart Gilas na yan at i-disseminate yung mga players nila sa PBA. Now, kung national interest ang paguusapan pwede naman na magkaroon ulit ng palyers selection coming from different leagues: PBA, PBL, UAAP & NCAA! Piliin nila lhat ng magagaling jan at yun ang ipadala abroad to compete para naman magkaroon tayo ng mas magandang Laban!

dpat nga galing tlga sa PBA ung lineup e, mas beterano pa cla, db gnun naman in the past, y naman nag back out ang pba pala? ano ang cause nun?