PHI – Toroman leaves Iran on good terms, pens Philippines deal

MANILA (Olympics/FIBA Championship) – Rajko Toroman guided Iran to their first berth at the Olympics.

Now the Serbian will attempt to do the same with the Philippines after being handed a three-year deal to serve as their national team project director.

The coach leaves former side Iran with the blessings of the country’s basketball federation.

“He is a good friend, good colleague and a good coach and he did a great job in our country,” said Mr. Mahmoud Mashhoun, the president of Iran’s federation, to FIBA.com.

“As his contract expired after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, it was his right to sign a contract with others and I wish him all the best on his new assignment.”

Toroman’s tenure with Iran had a lot of highs and lows both on and off the court.

He coached Iran to a surprise gold medal at the 2007 FIBA Asia Championship to earn a spot at the Beijing Games but not long after, Aidin Bahrami, one of the team’s best players and the brother of captain Samad, died in a car crash.

Toroman and Iran spoke of their determination to honor Aidin’s memory by showing hard work and determination on the court and they met that aim.

A busy summer saw them compete in warm-up tournaments in Italy and Slovenia, and also with the help of FIBA take an historic trip to the United States to practice and take part in the Rocky Mountain Review, a summer league for NBA teams.

In Nanjing, they took part in the FIBA Diamond Ball and upset Serbia before travelling to Beijing for the Olympics.

The executive director of the governing body for basketball in the Philippines (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) Noli Eala said to the country’s newspaper website the Inquirer.net that Toroman’s job will be to put together a program.

"We will study his program and decide what to do after that," Eala said.

Concerns have been expressed in the country’s media over the concern that Toroman, a foreigner, might coach the Philippines.

Eala said: "We are not discounting the possibility of Toroman coaching but all that will come after we see his program. Why don't we give change a chance?”