Troy Rosario happy to get Gilas Pilipinas call up anew

Troy Rosario said he is happy to receive another call up for Gilas Pilipinas.

Rosario has been tapped for another tour of duty with the national team with Kai Sotto and Kevin Quiambao sustaining injuries in the Japan B.League and Korean Basketball League, respectively.

"Happy na makakabalik ulit sa Gilas after how many years," Rosario said on Friday.

Aside from the call up, Rosario wants to redeem himself from the last time he served the national team.

"Hindi naging maganda 'yung last na [stint] ko, sa SEA Games nung 2022 so bounce back siguro," he added.

Rosario was referring to the 2022 Southeast Asian Games where the Philippines finished second in basketball -- only the third time it happened in SEA Games history.

The Barangay Ginebra big man, however, is aware that things have changed since the last time he suited up for Gilas. The team is now younger and has been on a good run since Tim Cone held the top coaching spot. 

Rosario himself was actually surprised that he was tapped for Gilas anew.

"Nung una siyempre nagulat ako kasi feeling ko 'di na ako ano doon kasi mga bata eh, pero nung sinabi niya (Cone) na kailangan ka namin, siguro may nakita siya na meron ako na makakatulong sa team, siguro sa depensa or something na puwede pa i-add sa lineup" he said.

Despite his national team experience which spans for almost a decade already, Rosario is aware that he will still need to fight for his spot in the Final 12 for the February window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.

"'Di pa naman sure na Final 12 pero gaya nga ng laging sinasabi ko, basta nasa pool, may pag-asa na sa Final 12," he said. 

"Tatrabahuhin ko 'yung laro ko para mag-fit sa sistema. Malay natin, makasama sa Final 12."

More than a spot, Rosario is also aware that his previous Gilas experience will be valuable to the younger generation of national team players.

"Sana makasabay ako sa mga bata kasi may mga mas bata na sa'kin doon," he said.

"Nakikita ko na sarili ko noon sa mga naunang Gilas kasama sina Kuya Ranidel [De Ocampo], Kuya Ping (Pingris), parang isa na ako sa mga kuya doon [ngayon]," Rosario said, adding that he is excited to play with the likes of Carl Tamayo and AJ Edu.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News