Troy to join Gilas camp

MANILA, Philippines — Newly-recruited Barangay Ginebra forward and 2019 FIBA World Cupper Troy Rosario will join the Gilas camp in preparing for the third FIBA Asia Cup qualifying window next month, it was disclosed by head coach Tim Cone.

Gilas will open camp after the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals. PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro said the quarterfinals will begin Feb. 5 and end Feb. 9. The national team will be recalled for practice possibly on Feb. 11 with the plan to leave for Doha on Feb. 13. In Doha, Gilas will participate in a pocket tournament with the Qatar, Lebanon and Egypt national squads on Feb. 14-16. “We will open camp most likely on the 11th and leave for Doha on the 13th,” said Cone. “At this time, Troy will join the camp.”

From Doha, Gilas will either fly back to Manila or straight to Taiwan where it will engage Chinese-Taipei in the first of two FIBA third qualifying window games on Feb. 20. From Taiwan, Gilas will move to Auckland to play New Zealand to close its window on Feb. 23. Both games are no-bearing for the Philippines with Gilas assured of a ticket to the FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in August.

Rosario’s inclusion is timely with Kai Sotto out of action with a torn ACL in his left knee and Kevin Quiambao down with an ankle sprain from his Korean Basketball League debut last Sunday. Gilas assistant coach Richard del Rosario said he’s hopeful Quiambao can join the camp. “I read somewhere (it’s a) Grade 1 sprain on KQ and he’ll be out for one week,” he said. It’s not certain if Rosario will be in the lineup for the coming window.

Sotto’s absence will signal AJ Edu’s comeback after sitting out the second qualifying window. Edu, 25, is healthy and averaging 5.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 23.7 minutes in 29 games with Nagasaki in the Japan B-League this season. Edu will share middle chores with June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar and perhaps, Rosario. Jamie Malonzo also missed the second window but will be in harness for the third. If ever, Rosario, who turns 33 on Monday, will mark his return to Gilas duty since seeing action in the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers in 2021.