Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times
(C) PBA Images

Basketball

Troy Rosario reveals How Scottie Thompson helped make his Ginebra dream a reality


Troy Rosario’s arrival to Barangay Ginebra would not actually be possible without some assistance from a former teammate turned close friend.

The veteran big man disclosed that Scottie Thompson played a key role in his decision to take his talents to the PBA’s most popular franchise, eventually leading to the realization of his childhood dream by signing with them.

“Parang ‘yung inner child ‘yung umano sa’kin na, ‘Why not try Ginebra?’ Kinausap ako ni Scottie na ‘kausapin mo si Boss,'” he recalled.

“Naglakas-loob na ako na kausapin si Boss Al [Chua]. Siya na lang ‘di nakikipag-usap na ano. ‘Boss, kung interesado kayo sa’kin, pwede ako diyan sa Ginebra.’ Naging maayos naman usapan. Finally, nagkasundo,” he added.

2015-PBA-D-League-LiverMarin-vs-Hapee-Troy-Rosario Troy Rosario reveals How Scottie Thompson helped make his Ginebra dream a reality Basketball News PBA  - philippine sports news

(C) PBA Images

Rosario and Thompson have long known one another since their amateur days, having played together with the Gilas Cadets that saw them help the program to a gold medal finish in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.

They also became teammates in the developmental ranks with the stacked Hapee Fresh Fighters in the PBA D-League, winning one championship when they swept Cagayan in the Aspirants’ Cup best-of-3 Finals of the same year.

Later on in that year, they’d make the jump to the pros, with Rosario drafted second overall by Mahindra — before he got shipped to TNT days later — and Thompson selected at no. 5 by the Kings in the PBA Rookie Draft.

“Alam naman natin naging teammate ko si Scottie sa national team nung nag-SEA Games. Naging teammate ko rin siya sa D-League sa Hapee. Before pa kilala na talaga. Naging close din kami,” said the NU legend.

#ReadMore  Leo Austria hopes 9th PBA championship finally silences doubters

Nine years later, the good pals are now reunited, with Rosario excited to link up not only with Thompson but with his former Gilas teammates as well.

2015-PBA-D-League-LiverMarin-vs-Hapee-Scottie-Thompson Troy Rosario reveals How Scottie Thompson helped make his Ginebra dream a reality Basketball News PBA  - philippine sports news

(C) PBA Images

“Gusto ko rin maging teammate si Scottie. Alam naman natin kung anong caliber ng player si Scottie,” he said of the 2022 PBA Most Valuable Player.

“Tsaka ‘yung mga dati kong naka-teammate sa national team. like kuya LA and Japeth. At, sino ba namang ayaw maging coach si Coach Tim, ‘di ba,” added Rosario, who last played for the men’s national team in 2022.

He’s excited, too, with the prospect of succeeding with the perennial contenders now that he’s authoring the latest chapter of his career.

“Nung free agency ko, ‘yun na ‘yung iniisip ko eh. ‘Di na rin ako bumabata so ‘yung goal ‘yung makuha ‘yung championship pa hanggang matapos career ko. Ayun talaga no. 1,” said the one-time league titlist with the Tropang Giga.

“Anumang mangyari, gusto ko talaga pumasok sa playoffs. Kasi once na nasa playoffs ka, nandoon na ‘yung chance eh,” he added.

But of course, he knows that he will have to work for it and go through the process as he navigates his way within his new ball club.

If it’s any indication, his first game with Ginebra on Wednesday night should bring excitement with what lies ahead for this team.

Rosario finished with nine points, seven rebounds, and three assists against four turnovers as the Kings beat NLEX, 109-100, for a successful debut in the Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

#ReadMore  Aguilar leads Ginebra past Globalport

“Excited ako kanina eh. Sobrang excited ako. ‘Di ko alam ano nangyari sa game. Para sa’kin, good first game,” he assessed. “‘Di ko pa rin masyado kapa sistema — actually eight days pa lang akong nagpa-practice.

“Halo-halo na ‘yung sa plays, at gusto matutunan. Shina-shuffle ako sa 5, 4, sa wing. So, medyo inaalam ko pa. Kinakabisado ko.”

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

ANTIPOLO – Magnolia stayed alive in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup after submitting arguably its best performance in quite a while to deal...

Basketball

NLEX kept its playoff hopes alive in the 2024-25 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, delivering a crucial 122-110 victory over Rain or Shine on Saturday at...

Basketball

NorthPort concluded its elimination round campaign in the 2024-25 PBA Commissioner’s Cup by matching a franchise-best win total, dominating also-ran Blackwater, 120-93, on Saturday...

Basketball

Gilas Pilipinas is readying to travel to Qatar to participate in the 2nd Doha International Cup from February 14 to 16, as part of...

Basketball

ANTIPOLO — June Mar Fajardo is confident that it will only be a matter of time before Converge’s two young big men dominate the...

Basketball

ANTIPOLO – San Miguel needed to call Lady Luck for some help in overcoming a vengeful Converge, 116-113, and breathe life into its flat-lining...

Basketball

ANTIPOLO — TNT rebounded from its loss to Terrafirma by overpowering an also-ran Phoenix, 106-70, to revive its top two aspirations in the PBA...

Basketball

After an uneventful stint with San Miguel in the PBA, Kyt Jimenez is eager to reignite his career as he joins the Zamboanga Valientes...

Advertisement