Toroman reunites with Eala at San Miguel
The country definitely hasn’t seen the last of Rajko Toroman as the Serbian coach, previously at the helm of the Smart Gilas-Pilipinas program, will return as consultant of the San Miguel Corporation (SMC).
Noli Eala, responsible for tapping Toroman’s services as national team coach during his term as Executive Director of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), will be reunited with the Serbian mentor again.
Eala is now the SMC Director of Sports and Special Assistant to the Office of the President.
"Rajko is coming back!," Eala said on his Twitter account. "Toroman and SMC come to terms on a full-time consultancy contract. Welcome to the SMC family."
Eala added the SMC management believes in Toroman's exceptional ability to help the basketball teams and program of the food and beverage giant. "He (Toroman) will be a valuable addition to our talent pool."
The San Miguel official told GMA News Online that Toroman will start working for the company on February 15.
"We will still discuss details of his assignment when he gets here," said Eala. "But in general, he will help our basketball program."
Toroman returned to Manila last week to pick up some personal belongings he left behind when he returned to Serbia shortly after his three-year contract with Smart Gilas-Pilipinas expired last year.
During Toroman's brief visit, he met with Eala where the SMC official reportedly offered the consultancy job to him.
He was also seen sitting a few rows behind the Powerade bench during the PBA Philippine Cup Finals between the Talk "N Text Tropang Texters and the Tigers, watching his former players like Marcio Lassiter and Jvee Casio.
Smart Gilas-Pilipinas came up short on its bid to clinch a berth in this year's London Olympics after finishing fourth in last year's FIBA-Asia Championship For Men in Wuhan, China.
But the Nationals made it to the medal round for the first time in 24 years, losing to Jordan in the semis, 75-61. They also lost the one-game battle for the bronze against South Korea, 70-68, after squandering an 11-point fourth quarter lead.
Despite the decent finish, the SBP decided to let go of Toroman, who in 2008 called the shots for the Iran basketball team that competed in the Beijing Olympics.
"We're grateful for what coach Rajko had done to Philippine basketball, but the thrust of the SBP right now is to allow Filipinos to be at the helm of the national team again,” said Smart Gilas team manager Butch Antonio. — JVP, GMA News
Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/247164/sports/basketball/toroman-reunites-with-eala-at-san-miguel
