ROSARIO WANTS TO WIN MORE PBA CHAMPIONSHIPS

AT age 32, Troy Rosario knows the window of opportunity to win another PBA championship is slowly shutting down. His previous team Blackwater is still in the rebuilding stage under coach Jeff Cariaso.

That is why when his contract with Blackwater ended months back, the thought of exploring the free agency market and look for a team where he can be positioned to win more PBA titles.

Lucky enough, Barangay Ginebra was in search for a big man to fill in its depleted front court line.

"My free agency, that's what I was thinking ... because I'm not getting any younger so the goal of winning a championship till the end of my career, that's my no. 1 (consideration)," Rosario said in Filipino after his debut game with Ginebra on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-7 Rosario gave a good account of himself in his first game for the league's most popular squad with nine points, seven rebounds and three assists as Ginebra beat NLEX, 109-100.

Rosario's versatility and blue-collar attitude are qualities that could easily allow him to seamlessly transition to his third team in his pro career.

And having just won one league title as a member of TNT during the 2021 Philippine Cup, there's no doubt that Rosario will be even more eager to contribute right away in the hopes of helping the Gin Kings win their eighth PBA crown under Tim Cone.

"Whatever happens, I want to enter the playoffs. And once in the playoffs, that's the chance (to win a championship)," said the second rookie overall pick in the 2015 PBA Draft.

"With a couple of games, the chances of winning the championship increases."

Rosario has, so far, won one PBA championship in 2021 with TNT.

Before signing with the Gin Kings, Rosario was offered a juicy extension deal by Blackwater, which he decided not to sign in his desire to explore the free agency.

Converge and his former team TNT also tried to lure Rosario but in the end, he chose to join Ginebra, which he also acknowledged as a PBA team he dreamed of playing since he was a kid.

Huge hole to fill

Rosario's decision to sign with Ginebra left a gaping hole at the 4-spot for the Bossing.

Cariaso admitted the team is still adjusting to Rosario's departure, while noting that he expects at least three members of the team to fill in the gap.

"We're really trying to move one from that," Cariaso said.

"When that decision (to be a free agent) was made by him (Rosario), we know that because he plays the 4 for us and play lot of minutes, the next guy needs to step in."

But Rosario left a huge gap to fill.

"It could be at this point several guys, and may not just be 1, maybe 2 or 3 more," Cariaso said.

Sophomore big man Christian David, the team's first round pick last year, has been given the task to step in and fill the spot vacated by Rosario.

And last Thursday, the former Butler University standout, contributed 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting as Blackwater finally broke into win column with its 114-98 spanking of an all-Filipino Meralco five.

Collective effort

Aside from the 6-foot-6 David, Cariaso expects even the wingmen and guards to contribute, knowing that it takes a collective effort to win.

"Looking forward to just improving and getting better and Christian, James (Kuwekuteye), that's all we've been talking about even before season started ... the idea of everybody contributing. Not just scoring," said Cariaso, whose team opened the Commissioner's Cup with three straight losses, before the beating the Bolts.

"When we move the ball and share it, it's gonna come back to you when you least expected it. And when everyone's on the same page, we have guys who can put the ball to the basket," he added.

" When we do things together and we learn, anything can happen."

Rookie guard Sedrick Barefield said Cariaso's encouraging text message Thursday morning got him pumped up and ready for the game.

"It was a good win for us. We didn't start the conference how we wanted," said Barefield, who scored a season-high 33 points, to go along with five rebounds and nine assists for the Bossing.

"Coach texted me, don't let the past linger. He has confidence in me, and I took that to heart, that kind of prepare me today, just leave the past behind us."

Blackwater takes a short break before returning to action on Sunday to face defending champion San Miguel Beer.

2024-12-13T16:21:59Z