When the rosters of teams that will see action in the PBA All-Star Week rolled out weeks ago, one of the many players who had a hectic week scheduled was Troy Rosario, as he was tasked to suit up for the SMART All-Star National Team in all three legs.
However, the TNT Katropa forward will only play in the Batangas City leg.
It seemed confusing at first, but Rosario clarified that he’d made the decision for a bigger purpose. The 26-year-old will be foregoing two All-Star games so he can focus on Gilas in the upcoming FIBA 3X3 World Cup.
“Naipagpaalam na ‘ko ni Boss Butch Antonio na hindi na sa tatlo, kasi originally sa tatlo (legs) ako pero sa Batangas na lang,” said the National University product, who has been in the Gilas program for three years.
“Kasi mag-focus din ako sa three-on-three.”
His absence for the Nationals was felt strongly in the opening leg in Davao Del Sur. Without him and 3×3 teammate Roger Pogoy, plus Carl Cruz, the nine-man SMART team lost to Baser Amer and the Mindanao All-Stars, 144-130.
The six-foot-seven Rosario is already a veteran on the three-a-side stage. Back in 2015, the three-year pro cager led the Manila North to a runner-up finish in the Manila Masters, and sixth in the World Tour Finals in Abu Dhabi.
There was even a point where Rosario was the best 3×3 player in the Philippines, based on the individual rankings made by FIBA back in January 2016. The Cagayan Valley native was ranked 74th worldwide during that time.
Now, eyes are on Rosario and the 3×3 team comprised of Pogoy, Christian Standhardinger, and Stanley Pringle — considered the strongest Philippine contingent sent in the annual tilt — to see if they live up to expectations.
