MANILA, Philippines – Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman sees the sudden change in the format of basketball competitions in the coming Guangzhou Asian Games as a blessing in disguise.

With 3 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) players still adjusting to his system, the Serbian mentor said the longer preliminary round will give Sol Mercado, Asi Taulava and Kelly Williams the opportunity to fit more in his system.

“We can't spend our energy thinking about the format,” said Toroman, who appeared at the PSA Forum at the Shakey’s UN Avenue on Tuesday. “We have to be ready with whatever they will throw at us.”

Toroman also said at the forum sponsored by PAGCOR, Accel and Outlast Battery that if the organizers add more games in the preliminary round, then “we can use it as an adjustment period for the PBA players."

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Noli Eala expressed concern over the format that the Fiba (Fédération Internationale de Basket-ball or International Basketball Federation) Asia will implement after Saudi Arabia and Kuwait reportedly backed out of the Nov. 12-27 Games.

The remaining teams in the preliminary round are Mongolia, Hong Kong, Turkmenistan, India, Afghanistan, North Korea and the Philippines.

Fiba Asia plans to divide the 7 teams in the preliminary round into two groups where each country, including the RP 5, will play two to three games before moving to the second round.

”It will be a big handicap for us,” Eala said. “By the time we play the more important games, our players are already tired and weary. There's also a risk of getting injured.''

Eala said Smart Gilas could play a maximum of 11 games in 15 days, including one in the medal round.

Toroman said the PBA players have been practicing with the team thrice a week at the most, and a longer format will give them more time to blend with the Smart Gilas regulars.

“We have enough quality players who know the system,” Toroman assured.

Smart Gilas was supposed meet Saudi in the first round with the winner advancing to the second round where qualifiers Iran, Qatar, Chinese Taipei and Japan are seeded.