Where to next? Troy Rosario weighs free agency options
MANILA, Philippines – Troy Rosario weighs his options as PBA teams hope to acquire his services after the former Gilas Pilipinas forward entered free agency.
Rosario became an unrestricted free agent after securing his release from Blackwater at the end of their campaign in the ongoing PBA Governors’ Cup.
Among those seeking to land Rosario — ironically — is TNT, his former team which traded him to the Bossing as part of a three-team trade that saw the Tropang Giga get their hands on Calvin Oftana two years ago.
Rosario met with TNT officials on Friday, October 4.
“The meeting was good. Seemed like he saw how serious we are on getting him back but it is still his right to still see the landscape of free agency,” said Tropang Giga team manager Jojo Lastimosa.
“For sure having Troy with us or perhaps somewhere else will make his team better.”
TNT, which drafted Rosario as the second overall pick in 2015, let go of the former NU Bulldogs standout after a dip in his production.
In the conference — the 2022 Philippine Cup — that preceded his trade, Rosario averaged 10.5 points on 45% shooting, including 28% from three-point range, to go with 5.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist.
But Rosario has regained his groove with Blackwater.
Last season, the 6-foot-7 stalwart averaged 14.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, shooting 50% from the field and 41% from beyond the arc.
He then finished as third-leading scorer for the Bossing in the Governors’ Cup with 13.5 points on top of 6.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists as Blackwater compiled a 5-5 record, just barely missing out on a quarterfinal berth.
So it’s no wonder why the Bossing, according to a source, presented Rosario with a lucrative offer in an attempt to keep him.
The source said Rosario still wants to wait for feelers from other teams — especially those under the San Miguel Corporation umbrella — before he makes a decision.
Now in his ninth season in the league, Rosario is a Mythical Second Team member, a four-time All-Star, and an All-Star Game MVP. – Rappler.com