San Miguel Beer hires Serbian coach Toroman as consultant for basketball

SERBIAN coach Rajko Toroman will remain in the country after coming to terms with the San Miguel Corp. which hired him as consultant of their basketball programs.

Toroman, one of the chief catalysts of the success of the Smart-Gilas Pilipinas program, had his contract not renewed by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas but quickly found a job with SMC where he will be reunited with Noli Eala, who he served under when the latter was still the executive director of the SBP. Eala is now the SMC Director of Sports and Special Assistant to the Office of the President.

Eala confirmed the news through his Twitter account. 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.”

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.

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. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio