PBA: Chance to play for Chot Reyes draws Ganuelas-Rosser back to TNT

Matt Ganuelas-Rosser shoots a jumper over Star forward Marc Pingris. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Matt Ganuelas-Rosser admitted that it’s the opportunity to once again play for Chot Reyes that pulled him to return to TNT following his foray into free agency.

Ganuelas-Rosser first played for Reyes in the 2012 Jones Cup where the Philippines captured the invitational tournament’s trophy.

“Being able to play under Coach Chot, that was like a big factor for me,” said Ganuelas-Rosser in an interview with The Game. “And then, obviously, they just won a championship, and they’re contending, and they’re really going up.”

Ganuelas-Rosser’s reunion with Reyes, though, took 10 years as the 2014 fourth overall pick arrived in TNT during the coach’s hiatus from the PBA.

Reyes, who was the Tropang Giga’s coach from 2008 to 2012, left the PBA to focus on Gilas Pilipinas and only returned to the league in 2021.

His return produced instant success as TNT captured the 2021 Philippine Cup, the team’s first championship since the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup.

“So for me, it was like, once I got the call that they were interested, I was like, ‘Okay, yeah, let’s try to get this done.’ Because that’s a place I really see myself fitting in, and really wanna be,” said Ganuelas-Rosser, whose contract from Terrafirma expired at the end of 2021.

While he signed for the team and coach that he’s always wanted, Ganuelas-Rosser said testing free agency was a difficult experience.

Ganuelas-Rosser and the rest of his 2014 classmates were the first unrestricted free agents in league history, making them a pioneer in player movement.

“It’s a little bit nerve-wracking, because you take a leap of faith, and you kinda bet on yourself,” said Ganuelas-Rosser. “But, I’m grateful that I did it, and I’m grateful to be where I’m at now.”