When Gilas Pilipinas head coach Yeng Guiao decided to make Don Trollano the tough final cut for the 2018 Asian Games, there was no semblance of defeat in the 26-year-old native of Gigmoto, Catanduanes.
Instead, Trollano accepted the fact that it was not meant to be.
“Alangan namang piliin pa ako kaysa kay Clarkson ‘di ba?,” the light-hearted three-year pro quipped.
“Dapat ako talaga yung pang-dose. Pero kailangan nila mag-reserve ng slot para kay Clarkson so ako yung na-cut.”
But after a turbulent 48 hours, the National Basketball Association decided to not clear the Filipino-American guard, who is playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The league cited that the Asian Games is not part of the agreement between the NBA and its Players’ Union for lending players to their country’s national teams.
The news broke out on Saturday morning. And once he heard about it, it was bittersweet for Trollano.
“Sayang, ang galing galing nun eh,” Trollano shared after Gilas’ win over TNT in a tune-up game held at the Moro Lorenzo Gym in Ateneo.
“Pero ‘yun naman ‘yung usapan namin nila coach na kapag hindi pinayagan si Clarkson, puwede ako pumunta.”
Though the dream of Jordan Clarkson playing for Gilas suffered another roadblock, Trollano’s own dream lives on.
However, there might be another roadblock, as Trollano’s inclusion might be too late since the tournament is set to begin on the 14th.
