I hate to admit it but Barangay Ginebra may not be the right fit for free agent forward Troy Rosario, who just saw his contract with Blackwater Bossing expire.
Sure, now as it battles sister team San Miguel Beermen in a best-of-seven semifinals, the 6’7″ former National University forward may have a spot for the Gin Kings bereft of size due to injuries to Isaac Go, Jamie Malonzo, and Jeremiah Gray, but after those walking wounded return to the pink of health, what will Rosario’s role be?
If I’m Ginebra head coach Tim Cone, I won’t be starting 32-year-old Rosario over a healthy Malonzo and you certainly can’t use him as a backup for veteran slotman Japeth Aguilar as he’s a bit thin of frame and his natural position is actually small forward.
Now, Gray can be the odd man out in Ginebra’s rejigged lineup if Rosario signs on the dotted line, but Cone and Barangay Ginebra general manager Alfrancis Chua (who is also San Miguel Corp. sports director) may not be too keen in giving up on the 6’5″ sweet-shooting swingman just yet (despite a myriad of injuries that has so far hampered his growth in the PBA).
Also, the 28-year-old Gray is four years younger than Rosario and unlike Rosario has guard skills which can make the Ginebra lineup more versatile. My fear is if Rosario winds up in Ginebra he’ll matter for a while until Cone’s thoroughbreds (Malonzo and Gray) ultimately regain their old form and he’ll be relegated to the bench before eventually being traded to one of SMC’s farm terms for a first round pick.
How about San Miguel? Now that’s a much, much better situation for Rosario as the Beermen clearly has no forward in the stature of the four-time all-star.
Rosario could feast from the outside and even from the 3- and 4-point lines with the gravity provided by eight-time PBA most valuable player June Mar Fajardo. He can be your prototypical stretch four for the Beermen while keeping defense honest with his versatile inside-outside game.
Head coach Jorge Gallent has his power forward now in the form of E.J. Anosike because of the import-laden nature of the Commissioners’ Cup, but after this conference Rosario could be the perfect mainstay at power forward for the winningest franchise in PBA history.
As currently constituted, Sam Miguel’s power forward are underwhelming with seldom-used Vic Manuel at 6’4″ the most likely to start alongside the 6’10” Fajardo. Rodney Brondial is slightly taller at 6’5″ but he doesn’t have the foot speed nor the outside shooting to complement The Kraken on the court. Meanwhile, Mo Tautuaa can hold the power forward position in small doses, but he’s better suited as backup for Fajardo.
The third wheel in the SMC group’s franchises in the PBA, Magnolia Chicken Timplados, can be a good landing spot for Rosario but given the turmoil the team is currently in following its quarterfinal exit in the hands of independent team Rain or Shine, I doubt it if Rosario signs there.
But he’ll certainly be an improvement over Calvin Abueva, who is only 6’2″ and getting long in the tooth, and could buy time for 6’6″ Zavier Lucero to round into form as the former UP Fighting Maroon is a bit green at only 25 years old.
As for the MVP Group teams, I feel there’s still some bad blood between Rosario and his former team TNT Tropang Giga so I doubt that he signs back there. They also have Calvin Oftana and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser occupying his spot in head coach Chot Reyes’ lineup (the latter was basically traded for him) so there could be a duplication of roles there.
How about the Meralco Bolts and NLEX Road Warriors? They’re sister teams of TNT Tropang Giga so Rosario may not have the appetite to suit up for essentially the management that traded him to a farm team. But come to think of it, Rosario will definitely be an upgrade over Alvin Pasaol and Jensen Rios at Meralco and Anthony Semerad and Sean Anthony at NLEX.
Which leaves us to a seventh team that entered the Troy Rosario sweepstakes and one that could be the dark horse in acquiring his valuable services—Converge FiberXers.
At Converge, Rosario will immediately start at power forward and may just be the veteran presence the expansion team needs to make it over the top (semifinals). He certainly won’t be tasked to guard Abay as Justine Arana and Jeo Ambohot—twin 6’7″ towers—are better options, but Rosario could lead the youngish crew of head coach Franco Atienza to better heights with his varied skills on the court. It’s also important to note that Converge will be expecting 2024 PBA Draft overall No. 1 pick Justine Baltazar to join the team in the Governor’s Cup so sky is definitely the limit for the team. At Converge, Rosario will also be hailed for choosing an independent team and somehow restore balance in the PBA (well sort of).
All seven the teams are definitely crying, “Halina Troy!”
