#SEAGames2019: Rajko Toroman looks forward to the future of Indonesia basketball

For Rajko Toroman, Indonesia's performance against host nation Philippines gave them hope as they are looking forward beyond the SEA Games.

Already known in the country as the main architect behind Gilas Pilipinas more than a decade ago, the Serbian was all praises to his former team who had beaten them by just 27 points in the semifinal Monday evening at the MOA Arena.

"They deserve to go in the finals. They’re the better team," said 64 year-old mentor about his former team that had Japeth Aguilar, Greg Slaughter and Marcio Lassiter who are part of the original squad in its inception in 2008.

Even though he was on the other side of the bench last Monday night, Toroman was still keeping tabs on his former wards, who laid the cornerstone of their current Gilas Pilipinas.

Indonesia had shot the lights out and made the game close in the first half, but the third quarter was a different beast as they ran out of steam but he did not mind about the loss.

"I’m not disappointed with the performance of my team," he added. "We tried to do something that I think the three quarters that we played good."

Afterwards, he was at awe about the glaring gap that Tim Cone's squad had compared to the disastrous World Cup in China, saying that the difference was miles apart.

"I think this team is better than the team in World Cup, despite [Andray] Blatche played." You have some individual quality, but they do not have the chemistry. "

As of this writing, Indonesia are facing Vietnam in the bronze medal game today in Pasay and for Toroman, he was proud that his new team have achieved in the SEA Games, given the task of improving its ranking in order to attain the hosting nod for the upcoming 2023 FIBA World Cup that will be held here.

Photo by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas