Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Ranidel de Ocampo doesn’t have to look far to see who is following in his footsteps.
De Ocampo, the 12-year forward sees himself in his rookie TNT teammate Troy Rosario, who is quickly making a name for himself in just his second conference in the PBA.
“Sa nakikita ko na isa sa mga pwedeng pumalit sakin sa Gilas na stretch four, si Troy talaga nakikita ko eh (From what I see, one of the players who can replace me in Gilas as a stretch four is Troy Rosario. He’s really that player to me),” said de Ocampo after helping TNT beat Barangay Ginebra, 107-92, on Wednesday.
Both de Ocampo and Rosario are part of the national team pool that will form the squad tasked to bring the country back to the Olympic stage in Fiba qualifiers this July.
The 34-year-old de Ocampo is convinced Rosario will be a valuable asset to Gilas.
No one can blame de Ocampo for such high praise considering what Rosario has been able to do so far and his high ceiling.
On Wednesday night, Rosario was at his best — tying a career-high 22 points on 5-of-7 shooting from long range.
“It’s heartwarming to hear it especially coming from one of the players I admire most,” Rosario told INQUIRER.net in Filip
ino.
“But I’m just taking it one step at a time. I still want to keep on improving and be better on the things I need to improve so that I can make the Gilas lineup someday,” Rosario added.
What’s more impressive is he’s thriving despite making a major adjustment to his game.
“I’m just taking the shots that the defense is giving me. Now, I’m starting to have a feel of the game at the small forward spot, but I’m still adjusting. I know I can improve more specially on the defensive side.”