The Philippine National Basketball Team Downs the Australia in William Jones Cup

Chris Tiu One of the top guns of Philippine Naional team.

The Philippine Smart Gilas team under the tutelage of Rajko Toroman vented its ire on the taller and bigger Australian team to rebound from a first game loss to Asian basketball powerhouse Iran. The Philippines dismantled the Aussie team the Townsville Crocs on their second game to level its win loss slate to one a piece on this year’s William Jones Cup which is held in Hsinchuang gymnasium, Taiwan.

Top RP naturalization prospect Marcus Douthit and Greg Slaughter dominated the middle even as Dylan Ababou, Chris Lutz, JV Casio and Marcius Lassiter gave the team the much needed lift by their relentless and torrid outside sniping, to somewhat eased out the loss they absorbed against the Iranian which showed action in the last Olympics.

The RP team will battle dangerous and host con their third game. The Taiwanese team routed Townsville on the opening day 103-55 and came back on the second game by squeaking past compatriots Taiwan U All Stars.

Iran also posted an unblemished record so far by registering their second win against the resilient Japanese side 77-73.

The Filipinos are expected to have their hands full against the similarly fast and deadly shooters Taiwanese team on their third game.

RP Smart Gilas Team Still Unbeaten in Australia

The Philippine Smart Gilas basketball team continues to show vast improvement and devastating form as it nailed its third win in four game by clobbering and outgunning the heftier and taller Canberra Gunners at the Belconnen Basketball Stadium in Canberra, Australia.

Feisty UST upstart Dylan Ababou scored a game-high 20 points with five three-pointers to lead the offensive charge of the Philippine team to notch its third win and preserving a lean slate in the six-game Aussie tour.

The gutsy Filipino side, already secured victories over the Australia’s Under 19-Squad, 78-67, Australia Team B 79-73 and drew with AIS 73 all.

The team is coached by the impressive Serbian Rajko Toroman, who played a big part in steering the Iranian national basketball quintet in the last Olympics held in Beijing.

The RP squad scorched its latest Aussie victim with series of outside shooting, scoring a remarkable 15 three-pointers even as Mac Baracael chipped in 15 points while team leader Christian Tiu posted 14 points to reinforce the heroics of Ababou’s in the game.

Former NBA Player Tapped to Reinforce RP Team

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) selected Jamal Wesley Sampson to be the replacement of C.J. Giles for naturalization to backstop the RP Smart Gilas men’s basketball in its ambitious attempt to qualify in the London Olympics slated next year.
Playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Bobcats, Sacramento Kings and the Denver Nuggets in the NBA, the six-foot-11 forward-center Sampson, arrived in the Philippines and paid an exclusive session with head coach Rajko Toroman, the same mentor that steered Iran men’s basketball team to its first ever Olympic appearance in Beijing.
Sampson, who suited up for the University of California Berkeley have a superb high school career as he earned third team in the Parade All-America honors, nosing out potential NBA legitimate talents such as Earl Barron, and Shawn Pruitt.
SBP executive director Noli Eala said, ” Its too early to assess but we’re excited with him. He’s highly recommended. He’s got good credentials.He’s more mature and more experienced. Eala added, “Coach Rajko is impressed. He thinks Jamal is a good potential”. Sampson is a cousin of the 1983 NBA No.1 draft selection Ralph Sampson, the younger Sampson was selected 47th overall by the Utah Jazz in the 2002 NBA draft, then was dealt along with Ryan Humphrey to the Orlando Magic for Custis Borchardt. The Magic later traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks for Rashard Griffith.
Sampson have a great collegiate records to boot, he averaged 15.5 points, 10.0 and 2.5 blocks playing as a senior.
Sampson is an athletic who can run the court very well given his height, have a sound skills in the paint and can intimidate opposing teams with his shot-blocking skills.
I hope Philippines will reclaim the basketball throne in Asia and will again emerge as a powerhouse in the world again. Jamal Sampson might be the missing link in the puzzle.