Don Trollano is hoping to realize his dream of winning a PBA championship with his fellow Adamson boys in San Miguel as they head into the Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup Finals opposite Magnolia beginning on Friday.
The versatile forward admitted that he and the other Soaring Falcons such as Jericho Cruz once talked about the potential of winning a title in the pros together, when they were all still earning their stripes in the collegiate ranks.
Years later, the opportunity presented itself by helping the Beermen reach the Big Dance, making him all the more eager to turn their fantasy into reality.
“Naaalala ko pa nga nun, kami ni Jericho, sabi namin, ‘Sana pagdating natin ng pros, makapag-champion tayo,’” he told reporters shortly after the pre-Finals presser, Thursday at the Eastwood Richmonde Hotel.
“Ito, nag-present na ‘yung opportunity. Hopefully, makuha namin siya,” the 32-year-old furthered.
Trollano and Cruz had actually won a PBA title together with Rain or Shine in the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup. Coached by Yeng Guiao, that Elasto Painters batch was the last independent team to win a league crown.
But now, the two are looking to strike another gold with some of their fellow AdU boys in Rodney Brondial and active consultant Leo Austria, their head coach during the two UAAP seasons they played together.
Their dream’s rekindling of sorts happened when the 15th overall pick by RoS in the 2015 Rookie Draft arrived at the Beermen via trade just last December, as part of a multi-team trade that also involved NLEX and NorthPort.
Trollano hardly needed time to fit in with his new team, and that seamless integration to the star-studded crew has enabled them to end up as the no. 2 seed, eventually reaching the Finals riding a nine-game winning streak.
Now, he hopes that all this would lead to them hoisting up the trophy at the end — something that he and his fellow Falcons weren’t able to do before.
“Kasi going back sa Adamson days namin, hindi kami nanalo. Ngayon, pinaguusapan namin siya sa practice na this is the best chance to win a championship na magkakasama kami,” Trollano said.
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