Troy Rosario and Moala Tautuaa. Photos by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
It could be the first time ever in the history of the PBA Draft that the first two picks won’t be around when their names are called on draft day.
Consensus top two selections Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario are expected to miss the 2015 PBA Rookie draft proceedings on Sunday to be with Gilas Pilipinas in Estonia where they will face European teams in a series of exhibition games as part of its Fiba Asia buildup.
According to the pba.inquirer.net, the PBA has approved the request of Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas to excuse the two prospects in the draft proceedings.
READ: Top draft prospects Tautuaa, Rosario to miss 2015 Draft Combine, PBA Draft
While most players wouldn’t trade a momentous moment in their basketball careers, Tautuaa and Rosario didn’t even think twice in choosing to play for the national team.
“I found out last night that I was going and I asked if I can comeback just for the draft but you know this is what I do, just play basketball. I’m not going to have this opportunity ever again and I’m not also going to get an opportunity to stand in the stage so it’s just what do you want. And I feel like playing is going to be better for me,” said Tautuaa, who has been invited to join Gilas in practice recently as a backup player to naturalized big man Andray Blatche.
READ: Taulava expresses confidence in newbies Tautuaa, Rosario
“It’s going to help me get ready for the PBA, it’s gonna get my conditioning up and like I said I’m learning from the players and now I get to see them in action against a different team and not against myself. Now I can watch and learn and take notes so this is a learning experience,” Tautuaa added.
It’s not the first time that the National University star Rosario will be sacrificing for flag and country.
As a key member of Gilas cadets, Rosario also passed up on his graduation day to be with the team which eventually bagged the gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.
READ: Troy Rosario handed ‘a chance of a lifetime’ being in Gilas pool
“It wasn’t a hard decision for me to miss the draft because it has happened before where I had to push my graduation to a later date because of my commitment to Sinag,” Rosario said during the 2015 Draft Suite at Maxims Hotel in Resorts World Manila.
Gilas departs for Estonia Monday night and won’t be back until a week after.
Tautuaa and Rosario will also miss the two-day Draft Combine on Wednesday and Thursday. CFC