Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser is not rushing recovery as he aims to be the best he can be once cleared to play for Blackwater in the upcoming PBA wars.
The 2022 no. 1 overall pick is still nursing a fractured finger he suffered during his Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 stint in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam last May 15, where the Limitless-backed crew settled for a bronze medal.
“It’s a long conference, it’s a long season, so I’m just taking my time making sure everything is healed and back properly before we go and play games and stuff like that,” he said during the league’s Media Day, Thursday at Novotel.
But there’s optimism that he won’t be away for long. Ganuelas-Rosser is pleased with his progress and that he may see action ‘in another week or two.’
(C) Virtual Playground
“I’m doing well,” he said. “It’s progressing, it’s healing well. I just went and got it checked up, and everything is doing well.
“Hopefully, in another week or two, I’ll be able to join the team for practice and wrap up for games.”
The 27-year-old forward has his fingers crossed that he will fully heal sooner. He’s excited to finally realize his dream of playing in Asia’s pioneering pro league, which got delayed for a year due to technicalities.
“I’m looking forward to it a lot,” said the UC-Riverside product. “Playing in the PBA is something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time now.”
It isn’t lost on Ganuelas-Rosser, though, that he may need some time to readjust in the 5-on-5 setting after playing in the halfcourt for months — the last time he played regular hoops was with San Miguel Alab in the ABL in 2020.
Still, the younger brother of multiple-time PBA champion Matt does not see any problem whatsoever as he makes his way back to the fullcourt.
Photo by PBA Images
“I think at the end of the day, basketball is basketball,” he said. “Three-on-three, five-on-five, two-on-two. There are some nuances that are different but five-on-five is the game I’ve been playing most of my life. I think I’ll be able to adjust.
“I think instead of running east and west, I’ll be running north and south a little bit more, that is the only difference. I’m looking forward to it. It’s been a while.
“I think the end of 2019, beginning of 2020 is the last time I played five-on-five for Alab in the ABL so it is going to be a little bit of an adjustment period. But I know I’ll be able to make the transition,” he added.
