Taulava expresses confidence in newbies Tautuaa, Rosario

Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario PHOTOS BY TRISTAN TAMAYO/INQUIRER.net

Seeing guys like Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario hold their own in Gilas practices, Asi Taulava is just happy to see the new wave of big men coming to the PBA.

“They’re young big fellows,” he said. “You know they’re going to be the top two, and for them to be here learning early, they get the advantage of playing against PBA guys in the national team. These practices only make them better and they come here and they work hard.”

READ: Troy Rosario: Trying to prove his worth | PBA Draft top prospect Tautuaa called up for Gilas duties as ‘back up’

The 42-year-old Taulava notes a big contrast of the centers then and now, zooming in on the players’ athleticism.

“You see their athletic ability, they bring a different dimension to the game. You can see they like to go up and down,” he said.

And the 2003 MVP hopes that the PBA aspirants continue their development.

“As time goes, they’ll continue to grow. Whoever the coaches they end up with, that would be a big factor in their growth,” he said.

With the two guys participating in the Gilas Pilipinas practices under coach Tab Baldwin, Taulava is confident that both his fellow Fil-Tongan Tautuaa and ex-NU Bulldog Rosario will fare well in the PBA.

“If they can survive here, they can survive the PBA,” he said. IDL