Matt Ganuelas-Rosser. PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–Terrafirma felt it lost something huge when Matt Ganuelas-Rosser opted for free agency.
“It’s unfortunate that he decided to test the free agency waters just as he was beginning to play an important role in the team,” Bobby Rosales, the Dyip’s team manager, told the Inquirer on Wednesday.
When hoisted against the backdrop of how the athletic defensive swingman landed with Terrafirma in the first place, the Dyip’s loss is even bigger.
Ganuelas-Rosser was part of the package that Terrafirma acquired when it shipped out erstwhile franchise star CJ Perez to San Miguel Beer. The Beermen also sent guard Gelo Alolino and big man Russel Escoto to the Dyip along with a pair of first-round picks, one of which Terrafirma used to acquire big man James Laput.
Terrafirma later shipped Escoto to Magnolia for a 2022 second-round pick. It also swung a separate deal with the Hotshots and acquired cat-quick guard Justin Melton and reserve big man Kyle Pascual for Laput. The Dyip then dealt Melton to Blackwater for slasher Ed Daquioag.
With Ganuelas-Rosser gone, the Dyip are left with a serviceable scorer in Daquioag, the seldom-used Alolino, a young big in Pascual and a pair of 2022 picks, one in the first round and another in the second round—in exchange for the all-around Perez.
Third player
“We would have loved him to stay with us. But only he can decide his future,” Rosales said of Ganuelas-Rosser, who is part of the 2014 draft class that can now enjoy the perks of unrestricted free agency.
“We respect his decision and wish him all the best in his playing career,” he said of the five-time PBA champion.
It wasn’t known at press time where Ganuelas-Rosser would eventually sign with, but Rosales said the cager nixed a two-year offer to remain with Terrafirma.
Ganuelas-Rosser is the third player to take advantage of unrestricted free agency after Rodney Brondial and Nards Pinto, whose contracts lapsed last Dec. 31. Brondial signed up with San Miguel Beer while Pinto joined Barangay Ginebra.
Cushioning the impact of Ganuelas-Rosser’s exit is the return of new Terrafirma top gun Joshua Munzon to active duty.
Munzon, the overall pick during 2021 Rookie Draft, is now back in town after recovering from a finger injury that shelved him three games into the last Philippine Cup.
He averaged 11.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals before going down with a broken left pinky.
“Indeed, it’s a welcome development that Joshua will rejoin the team [as] he is a vital cog in our lineup,” said Rosales.