Troy Rosario isn’t returning to Gilas Pilipinas with any sort of complacency whatsoever after being called up again by the injury-riddled men’s team.
The veteran internationalist is out to prove that he deserves a spot in the final 12-man roster after becoming the latest inclusion to the training pool put together for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers to address a thinning frontline.
“Well, nung tinanong ako, siyempre sumagot agad ako na ‘Oo,’ na, ‘Yes, I’m willing to play again,’ kung makipaglaban man doon sa 12 spots,” he said.
Rosario, 32, finds himself reporting for national duty anew after overseas imports Kai Sotto and Kevin Quiambao suffered injuries just recently.
For starters, the 7-foot-3 center has been ruled out of the season due to a torn ACL he suffered in the B.League, before ‘KQ’ fell down with an ankle injury during his Korean Basketball League debut with Goyang.
That prompted Coach Tim Cone and his deputies to look for pieces to fill into their big man rotation, leading them to call up Rosario — a logical choice since he’s been getting familiarized with the system since joining Ginebra.
“Well siguro may nakita nga sina Coach Tim, ‘yung mga coaches sa akin na pwedeng umano dun sa sistema ng Gilas,” he opined.
And ever loyal to the Gilas cause, Rosario couldn’t be any happier to have been invited by no less than program director and team manager Alfrancis Chua.
“Siyempre masaya, after how many years,” said the 6-foot-7 forward, himself a former Gilas Cadet. “Na-miss ko rin mag-Gilas. Iba ‘yung feeling ‘pag nandoon ka eh … iba ‘yung pakiramdam ‘pag bansa mo na ‘yung nilalaruan mo.”
(C) FIBA.basketball
It would be his first Gilas stint since the 2022 Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam in which the men’s team settled for a silver medal, and that gives him enough reason to find redemption in this return of his to the Nationals.
“Anytime naman na matatalo ka, gusto mong makabawi eh,” said the three-time SEA Games gold medalist and two-time SEABA champion. “Kasi ayun talaga ang basketball eh. ‘Pag talo, kailangan mong bumounce back.”
But that isn’t Rosario’s primary motivation.
As mentioned, his focus at the present is proving himself worthy of a spot in the lineup.
“Hindi naman ako ginuarantee ng slot agad sa final 12,” he said. “Sabi ko kay Boss Al, nung tinanong ako, kahit practice player, pupunta ako.”
Gilas is gearing up for Window 3 of the continental cup qualifiers next month, where it will take on Chinese Taipei and New Zealand — both on the road.
The Filipino dribblers are coming into the February 20-24 window leading Group B with a pristine 4-0 record, and are definitely looking to put their best foot forward even though they’re already qualified for the Asia Cup in August.
