Gilas reserve Troy Rosario explodes for TnT

MANILA, Philippines -- Talk ‘N Text rookie forward Troy Rosario swears his fourth-quarter heroics on Saturday against Chinese-Taipei was not a statement in anyway to Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin after leaving him out of the ‘final 12’.

Instead, Rosario said he simply played his heart out as a way of helping the Tropang Texters finish strong after playing poorly in the first half.

“Gusto ko talaga makabawi sa game, kasi yung first part ng game ko, sobrang sama eh. Hindi ako makasalo ng bola saka di ako maka-rebound dahil parang ang dulas ng bola,” Rosario told Philstar.com, moments after scoring 17 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter to complete Talk ‘N Text’s scintillating 99-91 win over Chinese Taipei, 99-91 in Day Two of the  Master Game Face-MVP Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The 6-foot-6 Rosario was relegated to the reserves early last week as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas submitted the team’s official 12-man roster for the Fiba-Asia men’s championship set to start on Sept. 23 in Changsa-Hunan, China.

Gilas Pilipinas’ frontline, instead will be composed of naturalized player Andray Blatche, Asi Taulava, Sonny Thoss, Ranidel de Ocampo and Marc Pingris.

Rosario said he never considered the cut from the Gilas final roster as a loss, stressing that he still has a lot to learn in his basketball career.

“Madami pa naman akong chance (to play for Gilas in the future) kasi bata pa ako. Hindi ko naman iniisip na mapasama sa 12 kasi kailangan ko pa ng mas maraming experience,” he added.

With the Fiba-Asia cage joust less two weeks away, Rosario said he will try to give Gilas’ final 12 a solid workout should he be included in the national team’s training camp in Cebu next Monday.

“Hindi ko pa alam kung sasama ako, pero sa tingin ko baka makasama ako kasi kailangan nila ng extra body sa practice,” shared the 23-year-old former National University big man, who was selected no. 2 overall in last month’s PBA rookie draft.