Gilas Cadet Troy Rosario. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
With the recent injuries and pullouts from the national team, coach Tab Baldwin has already made collegiate standout Troy Rosario as a part of the Gilas pool.
“There’s a possibility that he makes the team,” the American-New Zealander said. “He has everything with what we want from a basketball player except experience.”
Baldwin was confident of what Rosario can bring to the table, but he says the former NU Bulldog’s chances of making the final cut depends on what the coaching staff believes should be a priority when picking the final 12.
READ: List of PBA players for Gilas Pilipinas Pool
“If at the end of the day, we think experience is the most important thing, then he won’t be in. If at the end of the day, we don’t think that’s the most important thing, then he has a really good chance to make it,” he said.
But for Rosario, it’s just a chance of a lifetime before he even sets his feet on the PBA stage.
“Napakalaking opportunity sa akin na mapasama sa pool at maglaro para sa bansa. Ako lang ang collegiate (player) dito at learning experience sa akin ito. (It’s a big opportunity for me to be a part of the pool and play for our country. I’m the only collegiate player here and it’s a learning experience for me.),” he said.
Rosario says this opportunity has made him more confident as he plans to make the jump from being a collegiate champion to a professional player in the PBA.
READ: PBA legend thinks NU standout Troy Rosario will be a ‘legit PBA star’
He said, “Sobrang laking morale booster ito kasi sa dami ng player, ako pa napili at ako lang ang collegiate. Sobrang taas lang ng kumpyansa. ‘Di ko inexpect na magiging ganito na ‘yung career ko ganito pa lang kaaga.”
(It’s such a huge morale booster for me because of all the players, I was the one chosen and I’m the only one who’s a collegiate player. It’s a huge boost in confidence. I didn’t expect to get these opportunities early in my career.)
So far, the 6-foot-7 forward has been learning the ropes with his older counterparts like Asi Taulava, Sonny Thoss, and Calvin Abueva, and is admirably holding his own.
“Natututunan ko dito ‘yung pakikitungo, ‘yung chemistry na nabubuo na. Okay sila makisama,” he said. “’Yun lang, ‘yung physicality, medyo naninibago pa ako. Nagkaroon na ako ng idea kung gano ka-physical, pero makukuha ko rin sa pag-practice ng pag-practice.”
(I learned here is the camaraderie, our chemistry, is slowly getting solid. They’re okay to be with. It’s just the physicality that I have to adjust to. I already had an idea how physical it was, but I’ll get it the longer I practice with them.) IDL