Toroman hot on Douthit as Smart Gilas import

Serbian Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman yesterday ruled out any possibility of trying out former import CJ Giles or ex-NBA player Olumide Oyedeji and instead reiterated his desire to test American Marcus Douthit as the team’s candidate for naturalization.

“No way,” said Toroman, referring to earlier reports that Giles and Oyedeji would be trying out with the team.

Although the return of Giles, the 6-11 former Los Angeles Lakers draftee who saw action with Team RP last year, looks tempting, Toroman said he is not the player they are looking for.

“Although he looks impressive, he’s not the player we need,” said Toroman referring to Giles, who played for Smart Gilas for a year before he was released.

“What we need is someone who is stronger inside, can defend, get us more rebounds and can run the floor,” he added.

Oyedeji, a 6-10 Nigerian who played for the Seattle Supersonics, now the Oklahoma Thunder, from 2000-2002, has the materials to make it to the team but Smart Gilas may encounter problems with his eligibility.

Oyedeji suited up for ASU of Jordan and under FIBA rules, players who saw action for one national team in any FIBA-sanctioned event is no longer allowed to play for another squad.

That makes Douthit the most logical pick as the team’s reinforcement as Smart Gilas primes itself up for the Asian Games this November and the 2011 FIBA-Asia Championship, which serves as a qualifier for the 2012 London Olympics.

“We’re hoping he could be the one,” said Toroman.

The Smart Gilas squad is composed of the country’s collegiate players headed by skipper Chris Tiu, co-captain Mark Barroca and JV Casio, talented Filipino-Americans Marcio Lassiter, Chris Lutz and Chris Banchero and lone pro Kelly Williams.