Without Lutz and Lassiter, Smart Gilas-Pilipinas has hands full

WITH Filipino-Americans Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter still doubtful to play, Smart Gilas-Pilipinas has to dig deeper in its arsenal anew as it faces Jordan at the start of the second round of the 26th International Basketball Federation (Fiba)-Asia Championship for Men on Monday at Wuhan Gymnasium in China.

The Nationals battle Jordan at 3:30 p.m., with Lutz and Marcio Lassiter’s status still in limbo going into the match.

Head coach Rajko Toroman admitted that the two could give them a better chance of beating Jordan, a qualifier in the 2010 Fiba World Championship in Turkey.

“Lots of things depend on our two players [Lassiter and Lutz], which they didn’t give us to play [in the first round],” said Toroman, who is still hopeful that his wingmen can finally suit up in the tournament.

“Jordan is very physical, they’re bigger than us and we need these two guys, especially if they [Jordanians] play Zaid Abbas at position three,” he added. “And they have two extremely good players in Rasheim Wright and Sam Daghles.”

The Philippines has beaten Jordan in six of their last nine meetings, including an 81-70 victory in an exhibition game in Manila just last week.

But Toroman said Jordan, mentored by American Thomas Baldwin, has improved a lot.

“I’m thinking Jordan is in much better shape in than Jones Cup than here. For the moment, they didn’t show their real capability,” he said.

Jordan finished second in Group C (2-1) behind Japan (3-0).

After Jordan, the Nationals, who also wound up second in Group D with 2-1 behind China (3-0), will face Japan on Tuesday and Syria on Wednesday.

The Nationals hope to win as many games in Group E to have a lighter opponent in the crossover quarterfinal round.

Toroman is confident they can get through Jordan.

“I’m optimistic that we’ll win the game,” Toroman said, who led Iran to its first Olympic stint in 2008 in Beijing. --Joel Orellana