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Former Gilas coach Rajko Toroman takes over Jordanian national team

Barako Bull consultant Rajko Toroman talks with Greg Slaughter. (Czeasar Dancel/NPPA Images)

“There’s a big difference now between basketball in Iran and basketball in Jordan,” lamented Jordanian point guard Wesam Al-Sous after his team was eliminated by Iran in the quarterfinals of the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship. “I hope the people in Jordan get this message.”

Back in the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship, Jordan was literally a basket away from winning it all. They eliminated Iran in the quarterfinals and subdued the Philippines in the semis before losing to China 70-69 in the finals.

Two years later, under Greek coach Evangelos Alexandris, they found themselves in the seventh spot. Al-Sous called for change and Jordan’s decision makers gave him exactly what he wanted.

With the goal of regaining their lofty spot in Asian basketball, Jordan has acquired the services of Rajko Toroman, the architect of Iran’s meteoric rise and the engineer of the Philippines’ original Gilas program.

“It is a big challenge for me after Iran and Philippines to have the opportunity to coach of one of the best teams in Asia,” Toroman told FIBAasia.net in a recent interview. “I’ll try to do the same as what I did with those two teams, that is taking Jordan forward.”

RELATED: Rajko Toroman left his heart in the Philippines

After his stint with Smart-Gilas Pilipinas, which produced players such as Mark Barroca, Chris Tiu, JVee Casio, Mac Baracael, Chris Lutz, and Marcio Lassiter, Toroman found himself in the PBA as a team consultant to head coach Olsen Racela with the Petron Blaze Boosters.

However, his disciplinarian way of running a team did not sit well with the PBA veterans. He was soon booted out, landing in the same role in Barako Bull alongside head coach Bong Ramos. This stint also did not last long as his contract was not renewed.

Toroman left the Philippines not in the best of terms but his mark on the country’s basketball program is undeniable. He watched as many games in the PBA as he could regardless whether his team was still in competition or not. He turned into a celebrity in the arenas with fans often asking to have their pictures taken with him. This also turned him into a basketball ambassador as he willingly imparted knowledge to anyone seeking it from him.

As Jordan did not qualify for a spot in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain, Toroman is already preparing his team for the biggest competition in Asia.

“Our immediate target is the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, which will be a test of what we do in the next six months,” Toroman said. “Our long term target would be next year’s FIBA Asia Championship.”

The Serbian mentor will have back up ready, as two veterans will be returning to Jordan’s basketball team. “Sam [Daghles] and [Zaid] Abbas will play in Asian Games for sure,” Toroman said.