TNT’s Rosario relieved to get out with a win over Phoenix unharmed

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

Consider the job finished.

Troy Rosario took satisfaction on the idea that this time out, he was able to finish TNT’s game against Phoenix unscathed.

With memories of his freak fall against Phoenix last month revisited, the reed-thin forward made sure that the only time he’d leave the game was when the final buzzer had sounded.

“This was the game when I had to leave because of my injury, and that was in the fourth quarter of that game,” he said.

Rosario, however, didn’t want to dwell too much on that incident as he relished this chance for TNT to advance in the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals as the eighth seed.

“This is really important for once because if we lose, we’ll be out and it will be the first time of that to happen since I joined this team. So even before the game started, the bosses reminded us of the ignominy if we lose,” he said.

Rosario lit up for the KaTropa with a team-best 18 points on a 4-of-7 shooting from three, while also grabbing four rebounds in a 118-97 victory on Sunday.

“I just wanted to help the team. I made the most of my chances because I always get open and the coaches gave me the license to shoot. The confidence and the trust is there and I just tried to repay the faith of the coaches in me,” he shared.

Unfortunately for TNT, things won’t get easier from here with the KaTrop slated to face top-seed San Miguel in the quarterfinals on Tuesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Just like in their previous tiffs, Rosario expects another tough night against the three-time champions. But he knows that the KaTropa won’t back down as they are preparing to go all-out.

“Ever since, San Miguel has always been in the playoffs and we always cross paths with them. But if you want to win like we do, we know that we have to go through them first,” he said as he welcomes the challenge head-on.