For two games now, the TNT Katropa have been playing without top guard Jayson Castro due to his Chooks Gilas Pilipinas duties, paving the way for the other players to take charge and step up in lieu of the veteran floor general.
And one of those eager to show his willingness and assertiveness for the Katropa is sophomore point guard Kris Rosales.
“Coach (Nash Racela) said that this will be a good opportunity for some of us players that don’t play as much,” shared the seventh overall pick of Barako Bull Energy in the 2015 PBA Draft, although he was left unsigned.
Indeed, Rosales is seizing the opportunity.
In the Katropa’s first seven games where they registered a 5-2 card, the Bellflower, California-born floor general had been averaging a measly 3.7 points and 2.0 assists in the 17.2 minutes he saw action on the court.
But it all changed when the Asia’s best point guard was recalled by the national team for the 2017 SEABA Championships, allowing first-year pro coach Racela to plug Rosales into the spot his star guard will vacate.
In his first test against San Miguel — in which TNT reigned victorious — Rosales, named as a starter in that match, only managed to put up four points on 1-of-6 shooting. However, he logged in 22:15 minutes and dished out four dimes.
But in their next outing, the 26-year-old finally broke out. The Katropa may have lost to Star, but Rosales, named as a starter yet again, showed flashes of confidence with a conference-high 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting, along with four assists in nearly 24 minutes of action.
Losing players due to national cause can truly be a dilemma, but it can also be a blessing in disguise for players raring to show what they can contribute to their squads. And Rosales is a fitting example.
“I just try to stay ready. I put in a lot of work hours before and after practice,” shared Rosales, a former ASEAN Basketball League cager with the Singapore Slingers in the league’s 2015-2016 season.
Having to fill in big shoes is tough, Rosales admits. But for him, it’s all about being able to grab the opportunity and learning — all at the same time.
“It’s pretty tough, you know. We lost some of our players onto Gilas,” said Rosales.
“[But] everything is a good opportunity, and it’s a good learning experience for us.”
