Smart Gilas Pilipinas Basketball Team

Smart Gilas Pilipinas is a developmental Philippine national basketball team sponsored by Smart Communications and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP). The team is bannered by collegiate and amateur standouts whose ultimate goal is to reach the 2012 London Olympics. The team, formed in early 2009 to instill a long term program for the Philippines men’s national basketball team, is coached by former Iran national basketball team coach Rajko Toroman.

The Smart Gilas team has been rigorously training under the European style of play under coach Rajko Toroman. During the 2009 preparation, the team has had exhibition games with local PBA teams where the games were tightly matched. After their brief stint of local competitions, the team went to the United States briefly and held a training camp in Las Vegas, Nevada. They had scrimmages with American Basketball Association’s Las Vegas Aces, where the results were surprisingly in favor of Smart Gilas.

The Smart Gilas team placed 5th overall in the 20th FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2009 behind Al-Arabi of Qatar (4th), Al-Riyadi Beirut of Lebanon (3rd), Zain Jordan (runner-up), and Mahram Tehran of Iran (champion). The tournament was held in Jakarta, Indonesia on May 12–20, 2009.

Smart Gilas finished 3rd in the 21st Dubai International Basketball Tournament behind Al-Riyadi Beirut of Lebanon (runner-up), and Mahram Tehran BC of Iran (champion). The tournament was held in Dubai, UAE on January 14–23, 2010. Smart Gilas co-captain J. V. Casio was named best guard of the tournament after impressing the organizers with his consistency.

Stunning the World Championship-bound Jordan national basketball team, the Smart Gilas team emerged the inaugural champions in the 2010 Smart Philippine Invitational Challenge, also known as MVP Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium from June 24–27, 2010.

The Philippines (represented by Smart Gilas Team) finished 4th overall in the 32nd edition of the 2010 R. William Jones Cup, with a 3-3 win-loss card. The tournament took place in Taipei, Chinese Taipei from 14–20 July 2010.

Smart Gilas will represent the Philippines (as a qualified team from Southeast Asia) in the upcoming FIBA Asia Stankovi? Cup 2010, a qualifying event for the 26th FIBA Asia Championship in 2011, which in turn will be the qualifying event for 2012 London Olympics. The 3rd FIBA Asia Stankovic Cup 2010 will be held in Beirut, Lebanon from 7–15 August 2010, in Ghazir Club Court, to be participated by 10 national teams from Asia.

Smart Gilas Wikipedia entry

Our first long term developmental Basketball team that is being funded by Smart Communication headed by Manny Pangilinan and supported by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas that aims to qualify in the 2012 London Olympics.

Meet the Smart Gilas Basketball Team Roster

1. G 7 Ababou, Dylan 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) UST
2. F 8 Aguilar, Japeth 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Western Kentucky*
3. F 20 Al-Hussaini, Rabeh 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Ateneo*
4. F 12 Ballesteros, Jason 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) – San Sebastian*
5. G/F 10 Baracael, Mac 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 184 lb (83 kg) FEU*
6. G 4 Barroca, Andy (C) 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) – FEU*
7. G 6 Casio, J. V. 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) De La Salle*
8. G 15 Cawaling, J. R. 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) – FEU*
9. C 21 Douthit, Marcus 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 233 lb (106 kg) Providence*
10. G 13 Guevarra, Rey 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) – Letran*
11. G 14 Jazul, R. J. 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Letran*
12. G 16 Lassiter, Marcio 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Cal State Fullerton*
13. G 13 Lutz, Chris 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Marshall*
14. F 5 Ramos, Aldrech 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) FEU*
15. F 19 Sison, Magi 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) – UP Diliman*
16. C 9 Slaughter, Greg 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Ateneo*
17. C — Taulava, Asi 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 275 lb (125 kg) BYU-Hawaii*
18. G 17 Tiu, Chris (C) 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Ateneo*

Smart Gilas Pilipinas Facebook Page
Smart Gilas Pilipinas Twitter Account