ALLAN THE MAN

Chinese Taipei figures to be a tough early test for the Philippine national men’s basketball team early in the FIBA Asia Championship, according to international basketball veteran Rajko Toroman.

According to the Serbian coach who currently serves as consultant to Barako Bull in the PBA, the Taiwanese have become more formidable following the inclusion of naturalized center Quincy Davis in the lineup.

“Chinese Taipei has everything now after it got a naturalized player playing the position five,” said the former SMART-Gilas Pilipinas coach. “They will be very, very competitive in the coming FIBA Asia Championship.”

Davis averaged 18.9 points and 13.6 rebounds per game in Taiwan’s professional basketball league. He has been a force for Chinese Taipei in the William Jones Cup, helping his team to two wins in its first three games.

Gilas is set to play Chinese Taipei on August 3 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in the last day of the preliminary round. The contest is expected to be heated considering the state of relations between the Philippines and Taiwan, which has resulted in the latter’s withdrawal of its invitation for Gilas in the Jones Cup.

Aside from Davis, Chinese Taipei still has Tseng Weng-Ting to wreak havoc down low.

The ponytailed Tseng, who’s been in the national team for the last eight years, is a 6-foot-8 frontliner who has played for the Shanghai Sharks in China and Osaka Evessa in Japan.

JORDAN NOT AS STRONG.

Toroman noted that Chinese Taipei, and not traditional powerhouse Jordan, figures to be the Philippines’ toughest assignment in Group A of the tournament.

“Jordan has Jimmy Baxter as a naturalized player, but the problem with him is that he hasn’t played with the squad that long so chemistry will be an issue. The team will also miss Sam Daghles and Rasheim Wright, two key players of the squad the past few years,” he added.

Toroman has helped in the preparations of the national team, attending the squad’s practice and coaching Barako Bull in a tune up against Gilas.

He has extensive international experience, having piloted Iran to the Asian title in 2007 and the Philippines to a fourth-place finish in 2011.

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