ANTIPOLO – Troy Rosario is likely to sit out Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the 2nd Doha International Cup this week due to a swollen knee.
The veteran forward is still joining the trip to Qatar but will have to rest for about 5-7 days after getting hurt during Ginebra’s recently concluded PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinal series against Meralco which they won.
Head coach Tim Cone disclosed the development Sunday night moments after the Kings’ 94-87 Game 3 win over the Bolts at the Ynares Center here.
The champion mentor said that Rosario had already gotten hurt due to a Charley horse back in Game 1 of the series last Wednesday, and then got into a knee-to-knee collision during Game 2 two nights later that worsened his condition.
Ginebra’s trainers had to take out some fluids from Rosario’s swollen knee just before Game 3, allowing the 33-year-old to play in the do-or-die.
And despite the pain that saw him cramp up late in the match, the 6-foot-7 bruiser still managed to contribute 12 points, three rebounds, and three assists to help the Barangay forge a best-of-7 semifinal showdown with NorthPort.
Now, heeding advice from the Ginebra PTs, Cone and his deputies would want to play it smart in handling Rosario likely by sitting him out of the Qatar tourney, which serves as a preparation of theirs for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025.
Nonetheless, it’d be a meaningful trip for the veteran internationalist as it would enable him to further grasp Cone’s system within the FIBA context.
If he heals up on time, the former World Cup campaigner could still play for the Filipino dribblers in Window 3 of the continental cup Qualifiers later this February, where they’ll be facing Chinese Taipei and New Zealand.
