The TNT Katropa-Meralco Bolts semifinals series in the 2016 PBA Governors Cup may decide who this season’s top rookie will be.
Troy Rosario of the TNT Katropa and Chris Newsome of the Meralco Bolts are neck-and-neck in the tight Rookie of the Year race. The 24 year old big man is currently just slightyly ahead of the 26-year-old Filipino-American with Rosario holding just a 0.1 statistical point edge, 23.5 SPs over Newsome’s 23.4.
The second overall pick in the 2015 PBA Draft, though, is not putting any pressure on himself to win the once-in-a-lifetime crown. Moreover, he admittedly did not know that he was ahead by just a hairline in the rookie rankings against Newsome.
“Para sa akin hindi ko naman iniisip yun. Maganda naman yung nilalaro ng team namin, TNT Katropa,” the former King Bulldog said Sunday afternoon after his alma mater’s win.
Throughout his collegiate career, the 6’6 forward has never won an individual award. For him, winning a championship has more gravity compared to any personal recognition.
“Pag napunta naman sa akin, magiging thankful lang ako. Kung hindi naman, okay lang. Success pa rin ng team yung mas focus ko. Yung rookie of the year, individual lang yun,” admitted Rosario, who is averaging 11.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game this season.
“Hindi naman ako sanay na nakakakuha ng individual awards kaya okay lang.”
Looking forward to the semifinals against the Bolts starting Tuesday evening, TNT’s prized rookie believes that it will be a hotly contested series, with both teams going all-out for the coveted finals spot.
“Well, yung TNT-Meralco series talagang good match-up. Sa tingin ko aabot ng wire-to-wire. Good match-up tsaka parehas na talagang nagka-run this conference,” he promised.
